As Sweden's largest printing company, Exakta Print AB faced a fundamental shift in their market. Traditional offset printing was declining 8-10% annually, while European ecommerce customers demanded something radically different: the ability to print and finish individual books, posters and custom products one at a time – and deliver them fast.
From offset to on-demand: Exakta scales digital print with Canon and GelatoConnect
Through Canon's digital print technology and GelatoConnect's AI-powered workflow automation, Exakta transformed itself from an offset printing house into a digital-first production powerhouse capable of overnight turnarounds and next-day delivery.
Exakta’s key objective for the collaboration
Exakta saw a significant opportunity to change how they operated by moving capacity from offset to digital. They wanted to profitably produce one book while providing capacity for runs of thousands, process overnight order queues and ship the next day, and maintain consistent quality and efficiency even with unique orders.
Why Canon and GelatoConnect
Exakta made a strategic decision to consolidate around two core partners: Canon for digital printing technology and GelatoConnect for end-to-end production workflow automation. This integrated approach removed the complexity of managing multiple vendors while creating a unified system, from order intake through to delivery.
In terms of Canon technology, Exakta opted for:
- Canon ProStream: web-fed digital press for high-volume book production with offset-quality output.
- Canon varioPRINT iX3200: sheet-fed press for diverse print materials and fast turnaround.
- Canon Colorado: large format printer with unique UVgel technology for posters and canvases with consistent quality.
Exakta also benefited from GelatoConnect’s cloud-based workflow automation platform, which unified Exakta's entire production chain with:
- Real-time visibility from order intake to shipping
- Automated job routing and production tracking
- Intelligent batching and resource optimisation
- Streamlined pick, pack and shipping with data-driven accuracy
We thoroughly evaluated the market and selected Canon. The quality and all other critical factors were excellent. I believe we're in very good hands with both Gelato and Canon.
The ProStream stood out. The quality was exceptional – very close to offset, sometimes even better.”
Benefits of collaborating with Canon
Exakta’s collaboration with Canon and GelatoConnect has delivered several important results.
Overnight turnaround becomes standard
What was once impossible is now routine. Exakta processes orders received overnight, produces them on Canon's digital presses, and ships them next day – all while maintaining offset-level quality.
Shipping efficiency transforms operations
The most dramatic operational improvements came in shipping and logistics, where full visibility and automated workflows reduced errors and accelerated fulfilment.
New market entry accelerates
The Canon and GelatoConnect combination enabled Exakta to enter new product categories and markets faster than traditional approaches would allow.
Competitive differentiation through integration
By integrating Canon print technology and GelatoConnect software, Exakta developed a unique capability in onboarding ecommerce customers.
We wouldn't be where we are today without Canon – that's certain. We have a highly efficient book production line, but it's also the one-off customer jobs that matter. The ecommerce segment is our fastest-growing area at Exakta right now.”
Related solutions
Learn more about Canon’s technology.
Canon ProStream 3000 Series
Close the gap between toner and offset printing with a high-performance, web-fed inkjet press.
Canon varioPRINT iX3200
Discover the proven, market-leading sheetfed inkjet press and experience more profit and more business.
Canon Colorado M-series
A fully modular UVgel roll-to-roll printer. Configure the system to your needs, and upgrade later as your business grows. There are many opportunities to explore, including mixed gloss/matte printing and white ink.
Explore further
Read more case studies from Canon and partners.
Kern GmbH: driving greater sustainability and reliability with the varioPRINT iX3200
Learn how this sixth-generation family-run business unlocked high-quality and sustainable short runs with a successful investment in Canon inkjet printing technology.
RPI Europe and Canon partner to master on-demand photobook production at scale
Discover how RPI Europe, a leading global provider of personalised photobooks and business collateral, enhanced its production capabilities with Canon’s innovative sheetfed inkjet technology, achieving superior reliability, productivity, and consistent quality.
Druckhaus Müller and Canon combine digital and offset in one workflow
Druckhaus Müller was looking for a highly automated digital printing line with inline finishing that could be easily integrated into its workflow. The solution: the Canon varioPRINT iX2100 with FKS/CP Bourg.
druck.at partners with Canon to transform its print production through innovation
Learn how druck.at, one of Austria's most personalised online print shops, partnered with Canon to transform its production capabilities through innovative inkjet technology, achieving enhanced quality and efficiency.