Konica Minolta technicians beat COVID odds for KM-1 install

Two interstate Konica Minolta product support specialists have gone over and above to install a replacement AccurioJet KM-1 at Sydney’s flood-hit Imagination Graphics with both facing a 14-day COVID-19 quarantine when they return home.

Biorn McGinley from Adelaide and Stephen Griffiths from Brisbane arrived in Sydney on August 3 to dismantle Imagination Graphic’s original AccurioJet KM-1, which was destroyed by flooding in February, and install a new machine.

Griffiths drove to Sydney and at the time of speaking yesterday remains unclear about his chances of successfully crossing the border at Tweed Heads/Coolangatta due to tough border restrictions.

Providing he is able to get across the border, he will then have to spend 14 days in a hotel, further stretching out the time he has already been away from his young family. McGinley is expecting to be able to fly back and quarantine for 14 days at home.

Imagination Graphics Emmanuel Buhagiar is thrilled to have his replacement KM-1 installed

The pair have specialist knowledge of Konica Minolta’s industrial print products – including the KM-1 and the MGI range – and when necessary visit Victoria and NSW to address high-level issues on site, including at Revolution Print in Ballarat and Jossimo Print in Melbourne.

Now the machine is up and running, Konica Minolta’s Sydney-based technicians will be able to address most concerns, with McGinley and Griffiths on hand if needed.

The process of installing the KM-1 is now complete, with the press producing its first sheets yesterday.

The 10-tonne press required a crane to lift it into the premises at Marrickville.

“We are quite experienced now so we used a rigging company and a crane to help bring the machine in. It is 10 tonnes in weight, so it is not just something you slide around where you need it to go and has to be carefully lifted and positioned,” McGinley told Sprinter.

“There are a few days of assembly as the machine comes in multiple pieces and then you move into the calibration phase where you are printing but you are calibrating, assessing and tweaking to get everything dialled in nicely.”

Buhagiar said McGinley and Griffiths had done an outstanding job in installing the new machine and that he is thrilled to be back to full operation.

Imagination Graphics is fully operational again with the new KM-1 installed

“We’ve got a bi-monthly magazine that we’ve been sending out to get printed but we can bring that back in now. We’ve been using the toner machines, but it is more economical to put that work on the KM-1 so this is very good,” Buhagiar told Sprinter.

“Once this is up and running properly, I will be out knocking on doors and letting the market know we have it running.”

Since Imagination Graphics had been decimated by flooding, Buhagiar has been relying on printers in the area to help cover his work while he got back on his feet.

The twin effects of this, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, have made this year one of the toughest for the print veteran.

Konica Minolta general manager of production and industrial print Sue Threlfo said both McGinley and Griffiths had gone above and beyond in their commitment to getting the installation done quickly and professionally for Imagination Graphics.

“We are delighted to see our good customer Imagination Graphics with Emmanuel and Colleen up and running again,” Threlfo told Sprinter.

“I am very proud of the work done by our team to ensure we could deliver and install the KM-1 in these challenging times.  Our Industrial Print technical expertise is dispersed across the country, and the personal investment made by Steve and Biorn to be away from their families and the requirement for them to isolate before going home, is outstanding.

“I think it is a great example of how our service team will go above and beyond to support our customers.”

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter

One thought on “Konica Minolta technicians beat COVID odds for KM-1 install

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required

Advertisement

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Advertisement