Konica Minolta made a strong statement at Printpack 2025, unveiling its latest digital printing innovations and reaffirming its leadership in the market. Katsuhisa Asari and Manish Gupta of Konica Minolta shared insights on the company’s participation and technological advancements at the event.
Asari said Printpack India ranks among the world’s top three print exhibitions, following drupa and Printpack China. Konica Minolta secured its exhibition space as early as May 2024, recognising the importance of the event in showcasing advanced digital printing technology.
The company’s flagship launch at the exhibition was the AccurioPress C14010S, a CMYK+White digital press set to be commercially available in Q2 FY25 (July–September). This early showcase underscores the company’s commitment to staying ahead of industry trends. The C14010S is designed to enhance printing versatility, particularly for labels, high-end gifting, and short-run packaging applications, supporting media sizes up to 13 x 51 inches.
Gupta emphasised that Konica Minolta’s aim is to encourage commercial printers to embrace digital transformation, exploring new avenues such as embellishment, book printing, and labels. He noted that demand for transparent media printing, particularly in cosmetics and pharmaceutical labelling, has been a key driver behind the development of the CMYK+White technology.
Strong industry response and market outlook
The industry response to the new digital press has been overwhelmingly positive, with over 200 visitors—predominantly existing Konica Minolta customers—attending the showcase on the opening day. “Many of our customers are looking to upgrade their machines after five to seven years of usage, and this product provides a strong investment opportunity,” Asari said.
Globally, Konica Minolta has maintained a leading position in digital label printing, with over 1,500 AccurioLabel devices sold. In India, the company sees strong growth potential in digital labels and small-format packaging applications, despite relatively lower sales volumes compared to global markets.
Indian printing industry: growth amid challenges
Assessing the broader Indian printing industry, Asari noted that while growth in 2024 may be slightly slower than in previous years, the market remains on a positive trajectory. He highlighted the accelerated shift from analogue to digital printing, particularly in short-run applications, as a key factor driving industry expansion.
“While other global markets may face stagnation or decline, India remains a growth market with increasing demand for digital print solutions,” Asari concluded.
