Starting in late November 2026, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam will be replacing the printers on campus. The current Ricoh multifunction printers will be replaced by new Canon devices. This will bring about a number of changes for anyone who wants to print, scan, or copy.
To find a new supplier, VU Amsterdam issued a European tender. The service, which had been provided by Ricoh in recent years, was awarded to Canon through this bidding process. With the new service, VU aims to organise its printer fleet more efficiently, save costs, and reduce paper consumption.
Replacement schedule
A pilot programme featuring the first new printers will begin in the Transitorium building at the end of November. After that – December 3-24, 2026 – the printers will be replaced in phases by building or location. Staff printers will be replaced first. Next will be the public printers for students and other users, taking into account the exam week from December 14–18.
The schedule for each building or location and any alternative printing options will be communicated in a timely manner.
What will change for students, staff, and guests?
All existing functions will remain available, such as printing, copying, and scanning to email. In addition, new features will be introduced, including a print portal, the Campus Print app for iOS and Android, and a printing option for guests.
The way you print from your workstation and retrieve your print job from a printer will change in a few ways. Furthermore, the way students and external users can purchase print credits will change. The current Xafax system will be discontinued; any remaining credit will be transferred.
The printers will not be replaced on a one-to-one basis. In the interest of sustainability and due to declining print usage, printers that are rarely used will not be replaced. Therefore, your printer may be located in a different place than before.
Practical information
Clear instructions for printing, scanning, and copying will be provided with the new printers. Information materials, manuals, and training sessions will also be made available. We’ll share practical information about what’s changing and what you may need to do yourself through internal communication channels and on VU.nl.
You don’t need to do anything at this time. Keep an eye on VU communication channels, including VU.nl, and the information posted near the printers over the coming weeks. Prior to the transition, you’ll receive more information about the new printing process.