Konica Minolta sprang a major surprise at drupa 2016, revealing that it is developing the KM-C, a B1 format sheetfed UV inkjet digital press targeted at the commercial print and packaging sectors, making it the first printing system developed from top to bottom by Konica Minolta.
Also launching its B2 sheetfed inkjet press, now known as the AccurioJet KM-1, Konica has seen crowds packing the demonstration areas to gain an understanding of its capabilities.
Presented as a technology showcase prototype to gauge interest, the Konica Minolta KM-C lifts technology from the AccurioJet KM-1, giving it image quality at 1200 x 1200dpi resolution, as well as colour stability, with an inline sensor and image correction and the ability to print on a wide range of paper substrates without pre-coating.
The company says the flatbed sheet-feeding platform that it designed for the KM-C, enables easy processing of materials such as cardboard and micro flute. It can easily handle paper thicknesses between 0.3 and 1.2mm and can print up to 2200 B1 sheets per hour with a maximum paper size of 760 x 1,060 mm.
Setting its sights on a leadership role in the industrial printing market, Konica Minolta has focused on key industrial applications such as label and packaging, hence the development of the AccurioJet KM-1 B2+ sheet-fed UV inkjet press.
Olaf Lorenz, general manager the company’s international marketing division, says, “In line with our management philosophy, ‘The Creation of New Value’, we want to inspire our customers to seek new horizons for their businesses and attain the goals they set for success. We never stop talking to the market to ensure we can deliver the tools that will enable our customers to hit those heights.”
Konica Minolta says its AccurioJet KM-1, in combination with MGI’s Jetvarnish, shows visitors a wide range of benefits such as hybrid printing with the integration of KM-1 into existing offset processes, duplex printing and larger sheet sizes, as well as printing on packaging board, lightweight papers and textured stock.
Having invested in an additional stake in MGI, Konica Minolta says it can provide customers with added-value solutions such as decorative printing in labels and packaging. The MGI Jetvarnish also features with the label printer bizhub Press C71cf; the GMC DC330 Mini finisher; and as part of a business card production workflow, demonstrating the option to include spot varnishing and inline foiling on business cards, produced with the bizhub Press C1070.
Lorenz says, “drupa is one of the world’s greatest print shows and Konica Minolta is showing that it has the scale and expertise to grace such a formidable stage. We have one of the largest stands here in Düsseldorf and, with products such as the AccurioJet KM-1 and the technology demonstration of the KM-C; we are proving that Konica Minolta’s stand is truly one that every printer with an eye on the future should have on their schedule.”
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