Konica Minolta has just announced (roughly in the drupa 2020 timeframe that was to have taken place from 16 to 26 June but has been postponed to 2021) the AccurioJet KM-1e digital color B2+ sheetfed LED UV inkjet production press. Since its launch at Drupa 2016, the AccurioJet KM-1 has been acclaimed as a top choice among B2+ production digital printing presses and gained market traction globally.
Commercial printers, direct mailers, online printers, in-plant print shops, publishing, and book printing companies have multiple installations as a result of the world-class media versatility of Konica Minolta’s original LED UV inkjet technologies. The AccurioJet KM-1 has also realized a high quality that is claimed to match or exceed offset printing without changing the surface quality (that is, without the use of a primer or coating) of the paper media, which was previously been considered impossible or difficult with digital printing presses.
The AccurioJet KM-1e seems to be fine-tuned in comparison to the KM1, for a larger variety of media such as plastics, backlit signage, transparent film, foiled paper, metallic media, canvas, and synthetic substrates helped by new media sensors. The KM-1e model is also claimed to enhance expansion capabilities such as being open to more workflows. Apparently it will contain new versions of Konica Minolta’s 1800i inkjet heads and improved UV inks.
“We have attained a leadership position in the North American marketplace with our LED UV inkjet technology and finishing solutions, and we are proud to announce the AccurioJet KM-1e as the newest addition to our Industrial Print lineup of world-class solutions,” said Bill Troxil, senior vice president, Industrial, and Inkjet Printing, Konica Minolta. “Our customers will be enabled to deliver the best print quality and a wide variety of substrates to their end-user clients like never before.”
“Under our concept ’Igniting Print Possibilities’ we summarize our drive to solve customers’ and social challenges by the means of digital printing through further automation, integrated on-demand digital production, and visualization of quality and operation. The AccurioJet KM-1e is a key pillar in our strategy to help our customers seize the many new opportunities digitalization brings along, supporting the trend to switch from offset to inkjet printing in a fast-growing market,” said Toshi Uemura, executive officer, division president of Professional Print, Konica Minolta.
He added, “The main benefit of AccurioJet KM-1e remains its infinite expansion possibilities. It helps customers to unlock doors to new and more profitable applications. As just one example, we know from feedback that some customers are working more with agencies directly now thanks to the combination of world-class technologies. We can offer from high-quality print through to varnishing and highly sophisticated decorative cutting for customer business expansions.”
Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1, often referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife” of printing for its versatility with substrates and applications, as well as its successor, benefits from Konica Minolta’s unique, patented technology that has overcome one of the fundamental challenges of inkjet printing – uncontrolled ink dot movement that reduces print quality and workable materials. The technology uniquely self-freezes ink drops upon contact with materials, resulting in superior color stability and consistency and excellent results with instantly dry perfect prints.
Visit our website for more information about Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1e LED UV Inkjet Press.
This article has been slightly edited for its content on 27 June 2020.
Another zen drupa announcement that we would have expected to be made and shown in Dusseldorf. It’s clear that the industry cannot wait to talk about, launch, and push its technology enhancements.