The publication shows how this relationship has evolved over the years- from a traditional customer–supplier cooperation into a strategic partnership based on trust, technical expertise and Addit’s increasingly early involvement in new product development and industrialization.
The interview also explains how Addit supports Canon Production Printing in preparing components and modules for serial production, optimizing manufacturing technologies, quality, costs and process repeatability. It also addresses the development of the supply chain, digital integration between the two companies, and the importance of open communication and joint problem-solving.
Another important topic is the evolution of Addit’s role- from a supplier manufacturing according to customer documentation to a partner involved already at the early stages of product development. This reflects how our competencies, technological capabilities and approach to customer cooperation have developed over the years.
It is not only the story of a long-term relationship between two companies, but also of the people, knowledge and experience that have made it possible to carry out successive projects together for more than four decades and respond to changing market requirements.
We are pleased to share this story more widely and to show how a long-term partnership can evolve together with technology, customer needs and new challenges.
We would like to thank Canon Production Printing for many years of trust, openness and shared development. Special thanks also go to all current and former employees of Addit BV and Addit Sp. z o.o., whose knowledge, commitment and everyday work have helped shape this story over the years.
We invite you to read the full interview in LINK Magazine and discover the story of the long-standing cooperation between Addit and Canon Production Printing https://linkmagazine.nl/uitgaven-in-pdf/link-4-2026/
Below you will find the full translation of the interview published in the Dutch industry magazine LINK Magazine. The original article is available via the link above.
ADDIT AND CANON PRODUCTION PRINTING: MORE THAN FORTY YEARS OF (STRATEGIC) COOPERATION
FROM SUPPLIER TO STRATEGIC PARTNER
Sheet metal supplier and contract manufacturer Addit and Canon Production Printing have been working together for more than four decades. A relationship that has changed significantly over time. Today, Addit is a strategic partner that takes full responsibility for the industrialization of (critical) sheet metal components and modules. And the relationship continues to evolve. ‘We want to further reduce our time to market. To achieve that, we need to inform our strategic suppliers in good time’.
BY MARTIN VAN ZAALEN
Michał Strzałkowski, Marketing & New Business Development Manager, recently checked with his CTO, Marcin Osipiak, who has been working for Addit since the turn of the century: the supplier has now been working with Canon Production Printing and its predecessor Océ for 42 years. Initially, the work was mainly carried out by Addit in Venlo, but since 2005, Canon Production Printing has been served entirely by Addit’s facility in Węgrów, Poland.
The supplier’s role has changed considerably over time: from a build-to-print supplier to a highly automated early development partner. ‘Being a true partner to this customer. One that not only told us exactly what to deliver, but also genuinely listened to us. That was something we were not used to here in Poland,’ Strzałkowski recalls of his first personal experiences with what was then still Océ in 2013. That was the year he joined Addit in Węgrów and was immediately assigned to the large Océ team.
CUSTOMER AS A DRIVING FORCE
This was the period when the VarioPrint i300, capable of producing complete books at remarkable speed, was in the prototype phase. Addit was asked to handle the demanding production of the complex, critical paper guiding module, including its housing and frame components. ‘It was an entirely new printer. In the initial phase, two or three engineers and project managers from Océ were constantly working here,’ Strzałkowski explains by phone from Poland. ‘They made it clear what they wanted, explained the design and functionality of the modules. We contributed our know-how in cost-effective industrialization of precision sheet metal fabrication, resulting in high-quality repeatability. This involved knowledge and experience that had previously been transferred from Addit Venlo to our people here and that have since been further developed, with this customer acting as a demanding driving force. Moreover, working for this customer has always encouraged us to invest in highly advanced machinery.’
PROACTIVE AND OPEN
Later in the VarioPrint development process, communication increasingly took place by telephone. Even today, however, there is still between half an hour and an hour and a half of consultation every day – now via video calls – with Canon Production Printing, discussing how the production process is progressing, what changes are taking place, and what technical and cost implications these have. ‘We are now discussing the latest machine, the varioPRESS iV7. But they still approach us with the same proactive, open attitude.’
BUILDING OUR OWN SUPPLY CHAIN
Throughout the thirteen years that Strzałkowski has been involved, Canon Production Printing has always been very supportive. ‘They helped us build and strengthen our own supply chain. They worked with us to identify suppliers capable of meeting the requirements of a project, supported us during difficult negotiations and critical situations, and were always there as a partner when one of our suppliers could not deliver on time. Particularly during the bottlenecks that emerged after the COVID-19 pandemic, Canon’s well-developed supply chain and solution-oriented mentality proved to be of the greatest importance. Canon Production Printing’s considerable buying power also helps with procurement.’
‘THE LEAD TIME FROM PROTOTYPE TO MATURE SERIES PRODUCTION HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED’
SHORTER LEAD TIMES
Because the organizations are now optimally aligned and closely connected digitally, the lead time from prototype to mature series production has been significantly reduced, Strzałkowski explains. ‘Through EDI, which connects our ERP systems, we know exactly what we need to produce and deliver, and when, directly to Canon Production Printing’s assembly lines in Venlo and Poing (Germany).’ To carry out this work effectively, Addit receives reliable forecasts, while Canon Production Printing keeps the supplier informed of longer-term market developments. ‘We are increasingly involved across all planning horizons, market developments and their expected impact on the required quantities of parts and modules.’
FROM MILESTONE 1
Marc de Vaan is a Procurement Account Manager at Canon Production Printing, responsible for purchasing sheet metal parts and assemblies. He is therefore in frequent contact with Strzałkowski and his colleagues. In recent years, this involvement has started increasingly early in the development process. ‘From milestone 1. In other words, the moment when we have finalized the business case and decided which functionality we will use to meet a market need. At that point, we identify the critical, difficult-to-manufacture parts and assemblies and immediately involve our strategic partners. For sheet metal, that partner is Addit.’
PROVEN INDUSTRIALIZATION PARTNER
Addit has earned this position because, over the past decades, it has proven itself to be highly capable in industrialization. ‘We provide our drawings. They contain a great deal of detail, but also numerous references to our standards and specifications. Addit knows these inside out. We therefore only need to indicate where a weld should be placed, and they know how wide it needs to be, whether it needs deburring or grinding, and so on. They also know how best to perform the weld, for example from the back to prevent distortion. Their knowledge and experience of manufacturability enable them to achieve higher quality. And, just as importantly, at a lower cost.’
This can mean that the initial drawing looks different after the industrialization process with Addit has been completed. ‘Certain details may have been modified in relation to production technologies or the manufacturing process. As a result, the final product remains functionally identical, but its quality and reproducibility are improved.’
SHARING PLANS
The long-standing strategic relationship with Addit continues to develop, De Vaan makes clear. ‘We want to involve our strategic partners even earlier. Addit is informed and involved at an early stage of projects so that they can prepare in good time for the industrialization of components. We want to further shorten our time to market, but to achieve that, we need to inform strategic suppliers such as Addit in good time.’
SLOW AT FIRST, THEN VERY FAST
One of Addit’s strengths in Poland is that it is a large organization with strong, well-structured processes. In De Vaan’s view, this can also be an area requiring attention. ‘Their size and level of automation give them considerable capacity, enabling them to handle the large quantities of different components we require. The downside of this scale is that processing initial orders can sometimes take a little longer. But once a component has been integrated into their processes, they become very fast indeed.’
OPEN DIALOGUE
Does nothing ever go wrong? ‘Of course it does. We do not live in an ideal world,’ Strzałkowski acknowledges. ‘In critical situations, we sit down together immediately. This open dialogue has always been the foundation of our cooperation. We never look for someone to blame, but for a solution. Canon Production Printing is also transparent about matters such as pricing. They work with us according to the principle of open-book costing and share the target price at which we need to produce a component or module. That sometimes requires considerable creativity and technical expertise. That is precisely what I appreciate: we discuss everything openly and honestly, as partners.’
