Jaipur-based Kala Digital Imaging specializing in wedding photography and photo book printing has recently installed a brand-new Konica Minolta AccurioPress C6085 color digital production press. It is the third Konica Minolta color digital press at Kala Digital Imaging.
“We already had two Konica Minolta digital color presses, which have been working very well for us. So, when the time came to add another press, it was natural for us to only go for Konica. The AccurioPress C6085 offers great quality and speed. And the fact that we can process 400 gsm media makes the deal even better,” says Vipin Kala, proprietor of Kala Digital Imaging.
The AccurioPress C6100 / C6085 with IQ-501 optimization was launched in 2017 and built on the AccurioPress product line. The series’ key features include fully automated, one-touch, closed-loop image quality controls with the IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Optimizer module. The 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution with 8-bit processing of the press, optional banner and envelope printing, on-board scanning for fast, easy integration of legacy document workflows, and paper feed technology make it a comprehensively excellent digital printing press. The press accepts paper sizes up to 13 x 19.2-inches and paper of substance weights from 52 gsm to 400 gsm with its vacuum paper feed mechanism.
There is a future after the pandemic
Kala said that the decision to invest in a new press in the middle of a pandemic induced economic slowdown was challenging but at the same time, it was essential to plan for the future. Kala Digital Imaging operates multiple branches in the city and has presence outside of Jaipur. Apart from printing photo books, the printer also does some commercial printing jobs, but these constitute a small portion of the overall business. In addition to the new AccurioPress C6085, it operates Konica Minolta C70hc and C71hc presses.
Covid-19 pandemic has hit hard
Although the printing industry has been hit hard because of the Covid-19 induced lockdown, the wedding photo book business has been impacted even harder. Business is limping back to normal while full recovery is still some time away, Kala says.
“Our business was impacted very hard, but in the last few months, it has improved. However, business is barely 50% of the levels seen before the lockdown was imposed. As we advance, with the wedding season approaching and the relaxation in restrictions, we expect the business environment to improve further in the coming weeks,” he says.
Moreover, Kala is unsure when the wedding photo book printing market will return to the levels seen at the start of this year. “At this moment, it will be tough to say anything about the medium-term outlook of the market. Things are very fluid and uncertain,” he concludes.
