By Max Goldbart
The first books printed by Canon as part of the Room to Read literacy programme have reached schoolchildren in South Africa.
3,300 books have been delivered to 176 schools across South Africa as part of the Room to Read literacy programme, in partnership with Canon.
Canon began working with Room to Read and German-based publisher Goloseo, who initiaited the scheme in early 2016, at Drupa, in a bid to eliminate waste from print samples at trade shows. The books have been received over the last few months.
Canon sustainability director Stuart Poore said: “We are really proud to have been able to support Room to Read and their vision of transforming the lives of millions of children, by focusing on literacy skills and gender equality in education.
“The book printing took place live at Drupa 2016 and was used to showcase how books can be produced on demand in an integrated manner.”
Text pages for the books were prepared using Canon partner Ultimate Technographics’ Impostrip book imposition software and were printed on Canon’s Océ ColorStream 6000 at Drupa. Cover pages were printed on a Canon ImagePress C10000VP and the books were then perfect bound and trimmed on Canon partner Tecnau’s Libra 800.
The three picture books being sent were translated by Goloseo from German into English and two African languages, Sepedi and Xitsonga.
Poore said that since completion of the project, Canon has already delivered a similar project for a partner printing brochures for children in Zambia.
“Moving forwards, Canon will continue to produce print samples at trade shows, which have a social value, whilst also demonstrating print machine capabilities,” he added.
Room to Read chief programme officer Heather Simpson said: “Canon’s in-kind investments in our literacy programme is an inspired response to the lack of quality reading materials available for children in so many communities around the world.”
Canon recorded a strong Drupa, boasting 30% better sales than at the 2012 show and reaching its target for C10000VP sales on day three. It also showed two new Arizona flatbeds for the first time.
It will be exhibiting at PrintWeekLive! in March on the biggest available stand size of 54sqm, where it will be revealing more information about its inkjet technology.