Unveiled in Europe at a Drupa VIP event, the C14010s saw a public introduction to the North American market at Printing United, where the CMYKW machine was in action on the manufacturer’s stand, demonstrating Konica Minolta’s new IQ-601 colour management system, which helps automate job settings.
An upgraded C14000 device, the C14010s has been fitted with an additional channel for white toner; it will be available as four models, the C14010S, C12010S, and two non-white models, the C14010 and C12010. Both C14010S and C12010S will be able to print with white at 120ppm, according to Konica Minolta.
“We’ll probably start delivering in February, so customers will probably see it in March,” said Frank Mallozzi, IPP president at Konica Minolta.
Mallozzi, who joined Konica Minolta in April 2024, flew down from Chicago’s Labelexpo to Printing United; together, the shows are his first as president. Speaking to Printweek at Printing United, he said it was a joy to be out speaking to customers.
“I’m really impressed with what we do, and it’s been great being able to get out here and really understand what customers are thinking,” he said.
At the same time as American visitors were seeing the 14010s for the first time, Konica Minolta was unveiling for its global debut a brand-new label embellishment web press with single-pass inline foil and varnish.
“It’s the first press of its kind to foil and varnish in one pass,” Mallozzi said.
“We lay down a tacky varnish that adheres to the foil, then a regular varnish – all done in one pass – with an inline cutter on the back end. It’s very modular, and we are very, very excited about it.”
The MGI JetVarnish 3D Web 400 will be 100% web-fed, and suitable for fixed or variable data with spot UV varnish, he added.
Konica Minolta’s latest products are not just hardware, however: the Japanese manufacturer also unveiled at Labelexpo plans for software that has the potential to transform end customers’ design processes, called Ex-Kansei.
“It’s designed for the brands, the end-use customers that print service providers serve,” Mallozzi explained.
“It helps these brands pick a design that’s going to be most effective to sell off a shelf. It uses neuroscience-based technology, AI technology, aggregating those attributes [of printed design] and it helps you predict how effective the design you have in place will be.”
Mallozzi gave the example of a large drinks conglomerate deciding on a new packaging design for a particular product.
“They take 100 designs, and then who makes a decision? It’s the brand owner, the executive team or board. What they will have now, however, is a dataset to actually inform that decision-making process.
“In fact, it tells you you don’t need those 100 designs [to choose from], and cuts it down to just a few designs – and it will tell you the effectiveness of that packaging, how it sits on the shelf, and its appeal.”
Showed at Labelexpo as proof of concept, the software currently has no firm timeframe for commercial release, but is under continuous development.
Getting to show off new products – especially at two shows simultaneously – is hugely exciting, Mallozzi said.
“The folks at these shows are proactive. They’re always looking at that latest and greatest technology, so as a manufacturer and tech provider, we’re really pleased to be able to show them what we’ve been working on,” he said.
“We’re really happy with how it’s gone. Undertaking two shows was monumental, but we’re very pleased with the results.”
