Konica Minolta to Push Boundaries at drupa 2024

Konica Minolta has unveiled more details of its drupa presence on the opening day of the ongoing pre-drupa 2024 International Media Conference (25-27 March, 2024). The Japanese multinational technology major plans to showcase 20 European premieres, pioneering digital transformation, and live running of the biggest machines it has ever shown at drupa 2024 in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 28 May to 7 June, 2024.

Under the main message of “See the Potential in the Future of Print”, Konica Minolta will set up a 2,400 sqm exhibition booth – one of the largest stands at drupa 2024 – to demonstrate how it is strengthening and expanding the business of commercial and industrial printing customers, and ways of sustainable production in line with the philosophy of Industry 5.0. This will be achieved by assistance technology, labour-saving, and skill-less operations. It will include not only printing processes, but also post-press processes and improving the total throughput of the entire processes.

Industry 5.0 is the European Commission concept for a vision where people are at the centre of collaboration with machines, which, for Konica Minolta, involves developing unique digital printing systems and solutions to realise richer and more efficient production by allowing humans and machines to work hand in hand and help each other.

Unique robotic solutions and completely automated product lines

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.

Announcing the future model within the KM-1 family: The next generation High-Speed UV Inkjet Press AccurioJet 60000

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.

Applications will appeal to brand owners and advertising agencies

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 Digital Technology will show how separate processes such as foiling, varnishing, printing, folding, and drying 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.

Taking a partner approach to maximise opportunities

At the show, Konica Minolta 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, 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.

Exhibition highlights include 20 European premieres

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.

Creativity and sustainability

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.

The road to sustainable scalability: Industry 5.0 Automation

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.

Years of expertise and a relentless pursuit of excellence

“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,” says Olaf Lorenz, General Manager International Marketing Division, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH. “For commercial printers, we help them see the potential with growth and business expansion opportunities that are aligned with current dynamics.”

He adds, “Our showcase at drupa – with over 20 European premieres – will go beyond being a glimpse into the future. It is a manifestation of our dedication to pioneering digital transformation, fostering resilience, and contributing to the sustainability of the printing industry, especially as the era of print Industry 5.0 comes to life.”

Konica Minolta stand will be in Hall 8B at drupa 2024.