Seeing the Potential with Konica Minolta's Smart drupa Presence

AccurioJet 60000

With the most advanced end-to-end smart factory digital production lines ever shown in public, Konica Minolta’s and MGI’s joint drupa presence (Stand A65, Hall 8B) represents pioneering digital transformation across its 2,400 square meter booth on a scale never before seen at the exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany, running from May 28 until June 7. Across six inter-linked areas and two floors, Konica Minolta and MGI 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.

The booth – the seventh largest at drupa - is being operated from the viewpoint of a large, modern smart factory where visitors see at close quarters how the technology leader is holistically combining expertise as Konica Minolta continues to help customers with their digital transformation. It features true end-to-end solutions, starting with brand planning and running through to printing, post-production, and logistics processes – all on one stand.

Konica Minolta has at least 20 European premieres at drupa where it has a strong focus on sustainability, the value of print and how customers can “See the Potential in the Future of Print”, its main messaging for drupa. It will be demonstrating ways of sustainable production in line with the philosophy of Industry 5.0. This is being achieved by assistance technology, labor-saving, and easy-to-use operations, improving the total throughput of all processes, not only printing.

At the heart of Konica Minolta’s demonstrations will be unprecedented set-up configurations and new applications for Konica Minolta’s technology that have far-reaching implications for commercial printers and converters, as well as brand owners, designers, and design and advertising agencies in the way they do business.

Innovations and machine sales speak volumes about progress

Among the 30 systems running live at drupa is Konica Minolta’s next generation HS-UV Inkjet Press, AccurioJet 60000, which is being shown for the first time at drupa. This high-end model follows the quality and technology of the AccurioJet KM-1e series and has been further developed to maximize customer value and improve usability. 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. This press is a highlight of the show and combines impressive speeds with excellent image quality. The use of Konica Minolta inline sensors and a spectrophotometer allows continuous monitoring and control of the printing process to ensure consistently high quality.

AccurioPress C84hc

Another world debut at drupa is Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C84hc press, which uses high chroma toner that prints bright vivid colors consistently. It is the world’s only platform using the new toner free of the restrictions imposed by the color gamut of ordinary toners. Target customers include commercial printers, dedicated design houses, advertising agencies, corporates, and brands.

Another example of Konica Minolta’s technology evolution involves partnering with MGI (MGI Digital Printing Systems). Together they are demonstrating 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.

Multi-award-winning toner systems such as Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C14000e toner press for high-volume production with more than 2,200 global sales already and the AccurioLabel 400 – part of a single-pass portfolio that has already secured more than 1,500 sales worldwide – are among the star performers at drupa. These and other systems have helped underpin Konica Minolta’s reputation as a major player in digital printing as it continues to make further inroads into commercial and industrial printing markets using inkjet and toner technologies.

Taking Programmatic Printing to new levels with AI

Latest advances in areas such as Programmatic Printing – taking variable data to the next levels - with AI-generated content added to applications for totally targeted content will also be demonstrated at drupa.

The predictive software Ex Kansei is based on eye-tracking insights.

Since Konica Minolta is working with brand owners, designers and creatives to influence the influencers, also unique software is being shown at drupa, amongst them one premiere called “Ex Kansei”. The predictive software based on eye-tracking insights gathered from years of research can be used to turn invisible information into value by evaluating human elements such as attention, impression and positioning to analyse what the brain is thinking. Ex Kansei can analyse a wide range of brand assets including product packaging, website advertising, direct mail, marketing materials, retail environments and in-store point of sale, as well as direct mail.  Results are revealed within minutes of assets being uploaded to the cloud software quantitively analyses and visualizes everything from the attention a product attracts and the impression it gives to the harmony of colours, the level of complexity, and its positioning.

Putting sustainability into action with practical examples

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 brochures and other marketing materials produced on-demand at drupa. Moreover, and for the first time, Konica Minolta will not be taking pre-printed materials to drupa. Instead, any of the Konica Minolta product sheets or other marketing materials can be ordered on a big display and will be printed within seconds of any request on the automated lines running live.
In addition, practical examples include:

• Using recycled carpets that have been processed into new plastic flooring after being “shredded” 
• Collaborating with Dusseldorf University of Applied Sciences by supplying coated chipboard so that students can build new furniture, test set-ups and transport containers from panel materials
• Ensuring re-use of the panel materials later as a transport box
• Pressing chips into pellets in a new, energy-saving extraction system, which can be burnt in appropriate heating systems and converted into heating energy.

Unique robotics and other software advances

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 specialized 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 kilometers of travel and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 140tonnes.

Cobot

Combining modern order entry with automated processing, Konica Minolta has included two Cobot roboters to hand over the printed brochures to the customer who ordered them.

Plockmatic PSQ7000 in configuration with C14000e

Cooperating with partners to leverage world-leading expertise

At the show, the technology leader will also be working with many partners to maximize the opportunities of its world-leading technologies. In addition to close cooperation with strategic partner MGI Digital Technology (MGI), other stand partners include Industrial Inkjet Ltd (IIJ), a world leader in bespoke inkjet customisation, Plockmatic, a global supplier of finishing solutions that will be showing new products on the Konica Minolta stand.

Valiani, a world-class Italian producer of cutting machines and flatbed plotters, will be present as well as SEI, one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative companies in the world of laser technology. Also on the stand will be MTEX NS from Portugal with their digital press for corrugated packaging production.

Other leading partners like Fiery, Acco, Wirbelwild, Suchy, Upland, Grafisk Maskinfabrik (GM), Horizon and Kodak Creo as well as Konica Minolta internal divisions like Konica Minolta Sensing and FORXAI are demonstrating their capabilities as well.

New products unveiled at drupa for the first time include:

PaperOne 5000

PaperOne 5000

Belongs to an innovative range of SEI Laser systems which is the most technologically advanced for digital converting and finishing from SRA3 to B1 sheets for die-cutting and creasing in packaging and graphic arts. The B2 PaperOne 5000 modular system using Konica Minolta’s proprietary software Icaro - can be used with one or multiple laser units and can be configurated according to the customer requirements. Cutting, creasing and micro-perforation are some of the processes possible.

AccurioPro Colour Manager (APCM) Suite

New upgrades have been launched for this comprehensive colour management solution designed to streamline workflows with an integrated approach. AccurioPro Colour Manager includes seamless functionality with IQ-501, Konica Minolta’s own cutting-edge technology, or other external measurement devices.

Accurio Pro Dashboard Essential

AccurioPro Dashboard

An updated version of Konica Minolta’s advanced software tool covering the entire production workflow analysing complete processes has been announced. AccurioPro Dashboard captures the shopfloor with great detail enabling its users to reduce downtime as well as costs related to production. At the same time, the software helps maximize the overall productivity by analysing the entire production process automatically collecting and evaluating device information – and thus adds intelligence to your print-related business decisions.

AccurioPro Flux

A raft of upgrades has been made to Konica Minolta’s AccurioPro Flux software solution – all designed to enhance workflow automation, expand business opportunities and enable greater flexibility for customers. Version 10 benefits all three modules – Essential, Premium and Ultimate – and the highlight is the refreshed and improved WebShop incorporating numerous new features. The latest iteration also offers greater support for Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1 press.

The AccurioPro Flux Label Impose option works seamlessly with Konica Minolta’s AccurioLabel presses and offers an all-in-one package for printing that allows print providers to import and impose artworks, manage print jobs, add variable data and print labels in one. Flux Label Impose also facilities creating the correct data input for the creation of die tools, its VDP support, intuitive user interface and large print area of 320x480mm.

Valiani Omnia 100

Omnia 100 is an auto feed die-cutting machine with a continuous sheet media loader and processing system with a high-capacity feeder from Valiani to attend the growing demand of personalized die-cutting processes, exclusive packaging without adding cost of dies and make-readies. It features full digital workflow integration, auto-setting and barcode or QR code reading, meaning no high skills are required by operators.

Additionally, new options for the MGI JetVarnish 3D Web 400 such as a JetSeal and inline die-cutter, and, from Konica Minolta’s Sensing Business Unit, MYIRO colour management tools for graphics arts applications are being shown. These will include spectrophotometers for advanced colour management and for high-speed auto scanning.

Konica Minolta’s vision: High-value-added printed materials printed efficiently

Olaf Lorenz, General Manager International Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, said: “After eight long years, we are so proud to be back at drupa where we are showcasing our vision of the print room of the future. We believe that the mission of Konica Minolta's Professional Print Business is to promote the shift from analogue printing to the use of digital printing, thereby creating a world in which high-value-added printed materials are printed efficiently and the environmental impact is minimized. To realize this mission, we have a wide range of business scopes from commercial printing to label printing, packaging, and industrial printing, and as products and solutions, we have the industry's best solution menu, including pre-printing and post-printing.”

Source: Konica Minolta

The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with In-plant Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of In-plant Impressions.