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Konica Minolta has unveiled more details of its drupa presence where it plans to showcase 20 European premieres, pioneering digital transformation and live running of the biggest machines it has ever shown at the exhibition in Duesseldorf, Germany, from 28 May to 7 June, 2024 where it will have one of the largest stands (Hall 8b).
Among the highlights from Konica Minolta at drupa will be showing completely automated production lines driven by Artificial Intelligence, a state-of-the-art webshop and never-before-seen use of robotics and software solutions – including major advances in remote service engineering. Konica Minolta will be underpinning the unstoppable shift from analogue printing to the use of digital printing1 that is expanding into most print-for-profit applications - particularly in labels and packaging - in a world where high-value printed materials are produced efficiently with minimal environmental impact. A wide range of business scopes will be demonstrated from commercial printing to label printing, packaging and industrial printing, and as products and solutions.
Today, Konica Minolta has also announced further details of its next generation HS-UV Inkjet Press, AccurioJet 60000, the high-end model that follows the quality and technology of the AccurioJet KM-1/KM-1e series and has been further developed for maximizing customer value and improving usability. Engineered for industry-leading productivity, this printer is designed to minimize downtime, ensuring easy operation and continuous monitoring of device conditions for optimal throughput. In addition to its exceptional operational efficiency, the AccurioJet 60000 guarantees outstanding image quality and reproduction stability. Leveraging the AccurioJet KM-1 stable image quality, the printer employs Konica Minolta inline sensors and a spectrophotometer to automatically monitor printing conditions. This meticulous attention results in a wonderful image quality and reproduction stability across various printing media.
Konica Minolta takes pride in offering customer service of global standards, establishing trust with its clientele. Alongside considerate service, the company provides reliable customer support through an exclusive remote monitoring system unique to Konica Minolta.
The AccurioJet 60000 features an HS-UV Inkjet Press with a remarkable capacity of 6,000 sheets per hour (sph) and offers both-side printing capabilities, ensuring versatility and efficiency in printing operations. In the near future, KonicaMinolta will have two effective product lines, the AccurioJet KM-1e, which emphasizes small turnaround for digital printing, and the next-generation high-end model, which emphasizes productivity.
In other demonstrations, Konica Minolta will show unprecedented set-up configurations and new applications for its technology that will have far-reaching implications for not only commercial printers and converters, but also brand owners and design and advertising agencies in the way they do business. As one example, Konica Minolta and partner MGI (MGI Digital Printing Systems) will show how separate processes such as foiling, varnishing, printing, folding, and drying and can be combined into just one full integrated production run where MGI’s AlphaJet will be centre stage and showing the benefits of a complete single-pass factory. For customers, this will mean major savings in space requirements, power consumption and staff costs. Manual set-ups from different production engines will be combined into one completely automated system, including the use of software up to B1+ format size.
Demonstrations of Programmatic Printing – taking variable data to the next levels - will also be an important feature of the Konica Minolta presentations. As an example, AI-generated content can be added to applications for totally targeted content for individuals who provide just basic information such as their name, age range and where they live.
At the show, the technology leader will also be working with many partners to maximise the opportunities of its world-leading technologies. In addition to close cooperation with strategic partner MGI Digital Technology (MGI), those already confirmed for the stand include Industrial Inkjet Ltd (IIJ), a world leader in bespoke inkjet customisation, which chooses to exclusively use Konica Minolta print heads in its products; plus Plockmatic, the global supplier of finishing solutions that will be showing new products on the Konica Minolta stand. Also, partners like Konica Minolta Sensing, Acco, Fiery and many more will be collaborating with Konica Minolta at drupa to enhance the potential of the future of print.
Among the products being shown in public for the first time will be the Konica Minolta AccurioPress C84hc, which uses high chroma toner that prints bright vivid colours consistently. It is the world’s only platform using the new toner free of the restrictions imposed by the colour gamut of ordinary toners. Other premieres will involve a Cobot-robotics arm, new options for the MGI JetVarnish 3DWeb 400 such as a JetSeal and inline die cutter and the launch of a more advanced version of the AccurioPro Colour Manager suite of software solutions. From Konica Minolta’s Sensing Business Unit, there will be the unveiling of MYIRO colour management tools for graphics arts applications. These will include spectrophotometers for advanced colour management and for high-speed auto scanning.
Human centricity and sustainability will be important talking points for Konica Minolta. Novel ways of showing the benefits of digital printing and exciting people to ensure they concentrate on the creative tasks,with assistance technology taking away many of the mundane tasks. Konica Minolta will show how digital printing empowers printing on demand instead of “printing for the shelf”. An example of Konica Minolta’s “sustainability by default” will involve using recycled paper for all the print-on-demand brochures and other marketing materials produced on-demand at drupa. At the core of its drupa showcase will be the new business opportunities Konica Minolta presents, designed to empower customers to navigate and thrive in the ever-changing market conditions. Labels, packaging and embellishment will be spotlighted as part of Konica Minolta’s commitment to providing solutions that resonate with the changing needs of its clients. Konica Minolta will not be taking printed materials to drupa. Instead, any of the Konica Minolta product sheets or other marketing materials can be ordered on a big display (think how it’s done at McDonalds!) and will be printed within seconds of any request on the automated lines running live.
Aiming to ignite printing possibilities, Konica Minolta will be showcasing its vision of digital transformation in the print room of the future. A significant aspect of its demonstration revolves around the efficient use of digital equipment, specifically highlighting print automation. Under the ‘mixed reality service’, Konica Minolta’s remote servicing operations will be spotlighted where operators using headsets or smartphones with cameras can connect through the cloud to the Konica Minolta service desk to help with real-time remote visual support in the rare event of a problem. Showcasing at drupa, the smartphone app AIReLink is a specialised tool for service technicians developed by Konica Minolta based on years of experience with its 4,000-plus technicians. Since it was launched, this has saved almost 10,000 customer visits, more than 300,000 kilometres of travel and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 140 tonnes. Konica Minolta’s extensive exhibition space is proof of the huge importance it attaches to the professional and industrial printing markets, as well as drupa, which will be the perfect touch point for targeted customers. Across six inter-linked areas and two floors, Konica Minolta will have over 30 live running machines, virtually the same number of software displays and will be demonstrating how its toner and inkjet technologies complement each other seamlessly in the print room of the future.
“As a major player in digital production printing across so many markets, we will be demonstrating the advances that are the culmination of years of expertise and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Olaf Lorenz, General Manager International Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe. “For commercial printers, we help them see the potential with growth and business expansion opportunities that are aligned with current dynamics.”
We believe that the mission of Konica Minolta's Professional Print Business is to promote the shift from analogue printing to the use of digital printing, thereby creating a world in which high-value-added printed materials are printed efficiently and the environmental impact is minimized. To realize this mission, we have a wide range of business scopes from commercial printing to label printing, packaging, and industrial printing, and as products and solutions, we have the industry's best solution menu, including not only various digital printing machines that are our mainstreamed, but also pre-printing and post-printing.
Olaf Lorenz
General Manager International Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe
About Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH, based in Langenhagen, Germany, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Inc., Tokyo, Japan. With its unique expertise in imaging, data processing and data-based decision making, Konica Minolta creates relevant solutions for its customers - small and medium-sized businesses, large enterprises and public sector - and solves issues faced by society.
As a digital workplace solution provider, Konica Minolta helps its clients to identify and unlock the potential digitalisation holds and reach the next level in the digital maturity of their organisation by rethinking the workplace. In support of an ‘Intelligent connected workplace’, Konica Minolta offers cloud, IT, managed print and video solution services for remote working, collaboration, workflow management and automation and security. The company’s success in driving transformation is also confirmed by IDC, since the ‘IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Print Transformation 2023 Vendor Assessment’ has named Konica Minolta a “Leader” in print transformation. Konica Minolta has been a Microsoft Global Managed Partner since 2021.
Konica Minolta's Igniting Print Possibilities offering helps printers, converters and brand owners maximise workflow automation to increase efficiency. The company delivers consultancy in all communication matters as well as top-of-the-line production, packaging as well as label printers. Its finishing devices create print products that stand out and create added value. Konica Minolta has established itself as the production printing market leader for more than a decade in Europe (InfoSource).
For an increasing number of organisations, success today is more than the narrow definition of financial prosperity – it also includes protecting the environment and having a positive impact on their workforce as well as the societies they are embedded in. With its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Konica Minolta has pledged to consistently pursue its sustainability and social responsibility goals.
The company has been repeatedly recognised for its rich history of social contribution as well as for working towards achieving the SDGs throughout its business and supply chain. Konica Minolta received a GOLD Level Recognition Medal in the EcoVadis sustainability ratings for 2024.
For its remote services, Konica Minolta was awarded the prestigious ‘Buyers Lab (BLI) 2023-2024 Pacesetter Award in Remote Service for the Western European market’ from Keypoint Intelligence.
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe is represented by subsidiaries and distributors in more than 80 countries in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. With more than 8,800 employees (as of April 2024), Konica Minolta Europe earned net sales of over EUR 2.13 billion in financial year 2023/2024.
Worldwide, the company has over 40,000 employees and is operating in over 150 countries.
For more information, please visit https://www.konicaminolta.eu/eu-en/news and follow Konica Minolta on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
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Team Manager Brand Positioning & Architecture, Content Strategy & Development
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH
+49 (0)511 7404-5604