According to Olaf Lorenz, general manager international marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, many of the new products, which span presses, inline finishing and software, are getting their first global airing on its 2,400sqm Drupa booth.
The much vaunted 6,000sph AccurioJet 60000 B2 inkjet is receiving its European show debut in Düsseldorf.
KM described the 60000, which will go into beta sites next year, as the flagship replacement for the KM1 B2 inkjet that was launched at Drupa 2016.
“It contains the same professional output quality as the KM-1 does, the same technology, the same HS-UV inkjet [heads] and dot freeze technology which means the droplet is cured the moment it [hits] on the media,” said Lorenz.
Taking almost equal billing on the stand is the AlphaJet B1+/B2 single-pass press from MGI, which is majority owned by Konica Minolta.
While technically launched in 2022, and with three machines already installed, MGI is using Drupa as a global springboard for the 1,800sph, 1,600dpi packaging line.
“Today is the official kick-off of the machine, we have already installed customers since 2022 and have very strong feedback from the market and now we are ready to promote and sell all over the world,” said Victor Aberget, VP MGI Digital Technology.
Aberget added smart packaging applications were next on the AlphaJet roadmap.
Both Konica Minolta and MGI are sharing a stand at the show in hall 8b, where MGI is launching the Octopus digital die-cutter for roll-to-roll label production.
The 20m/min device offers cutting weeding and slitting and can be configured with up to 15 finishing tools, for processes including kiss-cut, micro-perf and creasing.
KM has also unveiled the AccurioPress C84hc digital press. This has a wider colour gamut than standard CMYK, closer to RGB according to Lorenz.
The SRA3 format 81ppm (A4) 1,200dpi engine marks the fifth generation of the high chroma range.
“Programmatic printing is [another] very hot topic… and we are showcasing a lot of programmatic printing and 'Ex Kansei', which is a neuroscience application that helps marketing service providers to sense check the quality of their output.”
The manufacturer is also running its flagship commercial toner press at the show, the AccurioPress C14000e, and the AccurioLabel 400. According to Lorenz the machines have respective installed bases of more than 2,200 and 1,500.
The Konica Minolta press conference panel, which consisted of senior European management, were quizzed on the recently announced joint venture agreement with Fujifilm.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) covers production printing devices, multifunction and office printers.
While the panel wouldn’t be drawn on the timelines or specific products involved, they said the MOU initially covered joint procurement around office and production technologies and collaboration around toner manufacturing.
Further collaborations will be reviewed after the initial elements are assessed.
