On its 2,400 square metre stand, one of the largest at drupa 2016, Konica Minolta aims to enhance the profits of its customers’ businesses by demonstrating real-value opportunities in several business zones. The complete Konica Minolta production printing portfolio, will cover business zones such as industrial inkjet, label printing and marketing automation. The new bizhub PRESS 1250e series and the full commercial launch of the KM-1 UV sheetfed digital press are expected to be crowdpullers.
Products to be shown at the Konica Minolta stand include the KM-1, bizhub Pro 1100, bizhub Press C71cf and 1250e digital label presses and the MGI JetVarnish finishers along with software solutions. These were announced at the pre-drupa media conference in February and visitors can expect to see other as yet unannounced products at the stand.
KM-1 beta site in Germany
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe has named PLS Print Logistic Services Germany in Markkleeberg, Germany, as the first European beta customer for the KM-1 UV digital sheetfed press. Live printing is expected to start sometime this month.
Konica Minolta’s KM-1 was delivered in January 2016 to PLS, which is already a user of inkjet as well as toner and liquid toner digital technology. According to PLS, the three main benefits of the KM-1 press for their business are its enhanced paper handling and workflow technologies, UV ink compatibility which enables it to move work quickly and easily to finishing with offset quality on standard offset stocks. There is no need to pre-coat or use a special digital stock. Moreover, it has superior production capabilities compared to competitor models because of the Konica Minolta expertise in inkjet head design and inline controls that monitor quality. Arndt Eschenlohr, president of PLS Print Logistic Services Germany, said, “The quality of the prints coming off the KM-1 has been fantastic. It is better than offset printing, that is for sure.”
Olaf Lorenz, general manager of the International Marketing Division, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, said, “Our fundamental goal is to anticipate our customers’ needs and turn their ideas into reality, by delivering innovative and meaningful solutions that drive their business. At drupa, we will be demonstrating thought leadership by presenting innovative business concepts. We will be illustrating how we enable our customers to grow their business and to generate more profit.”
Konica Minolta’s general manager, Toshitaka Uemura at its CP Business Division/Sales Headquarters said, “With drupa’s strategic realignment and particular focus on print and cross-media solutions, package printing and highlighting the industry’s innovative strength, Konica Minolta is the perfect match for drupa 2016. We are constantly delivering new business opportunities by virtue of our deep understanding of the production printing market and our customers’ needs combined with our high-end technology. It is the right time for innovative approaches and optimized workflows for a successful future for the commercial printing and graphic arts industry and we are well positioned to prepare our customers’ businesses for the new digital era.”
