Konica Minolta Unveils AccurioPress C14010S

Konica Minolta officially launched its newest digital color production press, the AccurioPress C14010S, in a virtual press conference yesterday. This advanced press represents a significant leap forward in print technology and automation. It will begin shipping in early May.

Ines Wennemann, senior product manager, professional printing, gave a virtual demo of the AccurioPress C14010S.

Initially introduced to the North American market at Printing United Expo 2024 in Las Vegas, the C14010S is an upgraded version of the renowned C14000 series, now featuring groundbreaking capabilities. The "S" in C14010S stands for “special color,” and the machine lives up to its name with the addition of white toner printing capabilities. This feature allows users to produce high-impact white prints on colored and transparent media, opening up new creative possibilities for graphic arts customers and print service providers (PSPs). Even when using white toner, the press maintains impressive speeds of up to 120 sheets per minute, showcasing its superior efficiency.

Ines Wennemann showed samples printed with white ink on the AccurioPress C14010S.

In a live product demonstration during the press conference, Ines Wennemann, senior product manager, professional printing, showed off samples featuring white toner on colored media.

“The special thing about the white is that the customer can choose between the different densities,” she said. “If you like a really full white or lighter white, you can set it up per job, or you can even set it up per paper.”

Key benefits of the C14010S

With print speeds of up to 140 A4 pages per minute for standard jobs, the C14010S reportedly delivers both speed and precision. It handles media weights ranging from 52 to 450 g/m², making it versatile enough to accommodate everything from thin paper to heavy cardstock, envelopes, embossed materials, polyester, and cut-sheet labels. For larger, more demanding projects, the system supports long sheets up to 1,300mm (or 900mm in duplex), catering to a range of commercial and specialty applications.

Smarter Automation with the IQ-601 and Intelligent Media Sensors

At the core of the AccurioPress C14010S are its advanced automation features, designed to simplify operations and reduce the need for manual intervention. The press is equipped with the Intelligent Quality Optimizer (IQ-601), the successor of the IQ 501, and Intelligent Media Sensors (IM-104 and IM-105), which work together to deliver efficiency and quality.

The IQ-601 includes a new inline spectrophotometer that ensures precise color profiles, consistent color quality, and automatic image alignment. It also eliminates front/back alignment errors, ensuring professional results every time.

“We're really excited to introduce the next version of this technology that really encompasses an all-in-one closed-loop solution that's going to give you not only that same sensing technology – that same technology around front -to-back registration – but be able to include a true spectrophotometer in there that's really going to manage the full circle of from registration right up to managing your color,” said Jason Dizzine, Konica Minolta’s vice president of portfolio management and planning.

Ines Wennemann displays the inner workings of the new Konica Minolta AccurioPress C14010S.

The auto quality adjustment technology built into the IQ-601, he added, “gives us the ability to look at real time data and provide it back to the press to make changes to first try there and self repair, but then also send that super important data back to potentially a remote technician, or provide it to our technician on site. Really, really, an amazing opportunity for us to change how we're supporting our customers.”

The Intelligent Media Sensors identify paper type, weight, and size instantly, optimizing print settings without operator input. The IM-105 even detects slight variations in paper cutting size and adjusts positioning automatically. It also detects mismatched paper settings mid-production, pausing the process to prevent further issues. A purge tray handles jams or double feeds.

By introducing the MI-104 and IM-105, Dizzine said, “we're going to give our users the opportunity to load media in a press, use this technology to automatically censor things like the moisture content of the paper, what the room environmental data is like, what are the specifics of the paper, like the thickness in the media, and use that data to automatically tell the main unit what are the best settings to deliver the best output.”

These innovations streamline workflows, allowing operators to focus on high-value, creative tasks rather than time-consuming adjustments.

Advanced Manufacturing Capabilities

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in production print, Konica Minolta began the press conference with a video of the facility in Japan where the C14010S is being manufactured. The factory uses advanced automation and robotics to ensure accuracy and efficiency. It is powered by 100% renewable energy, with 13% coming from solar panels that sit on the rooftop.

With more than 20,000 parts working in harmony, the AccurioPress C14010S is engineered to meet the demands of today’s PSPs and in-plant printing facilities. The addition of white toner and other automation tools make it an ideal solution for businesses looking to expand their service offerings and achieve higher productivity with minimal manual oversight.

The press also supports automatic paper inspection via the AI-101 Paper Inspection Unit, ensuring flawless results. From identifying potential defects to maintaining consistent image quality, these tools enable uninterrupted, unattended printing.

In addition to automation, the AccurioPress C14010S stands out for its print quality and versatility. With the ability to print on diverse substrates — everything from thin paper to heavy cardstock, envelopes, embossed materials, polyester, and cut-sheet labels  — the C14010S provides unparalleled flexibility for PSPs looking to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.

Conclusion

Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C14010S is more than just a digital press; it’s a powerful tool for transforming the way businesses approach print production. With groundbreaking features like white toner printing, the IQ-601 color management system, and intelligent media sensors, this press is poised to redefine productivity and creativity for PSPs and in-plants alike.

Ines Wennemann, senior product manager, professional printing, gave a virtual demo of the AccurioPress C14010S.

Sample with white toner on black sheet.