Konica Minolta Presents the Purpose of Its Professional Print Business at drupa 2024

Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) successfully exhibited at drupa 2024, which was held in Düsseldorf, Germany from May 28 to June 7, 2024. drupa is the world’s leading international trade fair for print and cross-media solutions. A highlight video of the exhibition booth is available on its special website for drupa 2024 at: https://www.konicaminolta.eu/eu-en/drupa2024

At the trade fair, which was held on site for the first time in eight years, Konica Minolta showcased various solutions for improving the working environment of printing companies, reducing environmental impact, and doing business sustainably by automating and saving labor in the printing process. The Company mainly featured the AccurioJet 60000, the flagship model of the B2-size inkjet press that was exhibited for the first time, and the AlphaJET, which was jointly exhibited with MGI Digital Technology (headquartered in France). Much positive feedback was received.

drupa offers an important opportunity to hold business negotiations with global customers in addition to exhibiting technologies and products. During the 11-day period, Konica Minolta signed over 200 business contracts with customers from around the world, including Europe, North America, India, China, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. The number of contracts far exceeded those in the past.

Konica Minolta has defined the purpose of its Professional Print Business, which is one of the strengthening businesses in its Medium-term Business Plan and explained it to many global stakeholders. Based on the purpose, the Company will achieve sustainable business growth and solve social issues.

A signing ceremony after business negotiations at the venue

Purpose of the Professional Print Business

The purpose has been defined as: “Realization of better communication and a better society with the power of digital printing.” Konica Minolta aims to realize a sustainable printing industry and society by continuously offering unique value in line with this purpose.

Konica Minolta will solve the issues of shortages of skilled workers, growing demand for small-lot printing, and reduction in environmental impact, which are major issues faced by the printing industry, through its automation and labor-saving solutions based on its proprietary technologies and know-how and its capabilities to support customers.

Digital printing, which does not require printing plates, helps to minimize paper waste generated in the printing process, mitigate environmental impact by reducing the production and circulation of unnecessary printed matter, lighten the workload of operators, and solve labor shortages, including those in the logistics industry, by “printing highly effective printed matter only when necessary, where needed, and in the required quantity.” Konica Minolta aims to improve the value of printing and revolutionize the supply chain.

In addition to explaining the value to printing companies, Konica Minolta will further enhance its approach to brand owners, who order printed materials. The Company will create demand for printing that is highly effective in sales promotion through EXplainable Kansei (EX Kansei) solutions, which leverage the strengths of digital printing, and through unique services, including AccurioDX.

Taking variable data to the next level 

Konica Minolta’s showcase at drupa involved more than 20 premieres, software innovations and important advancements in areas such as commercial printing, label printing, packaging as well as industrial printing, with focus on aspects like digital transformation and sustainability. Other focuses included next steps in programmatic printing where Konica Minolta showed how variable data could be taken to the next level by harnessing AI.

Another example of Konica Minolta’s technology evolution was demonstrating how separate processes such as foiling, varnishing, printing, and drying can be combined into just one full integrated production run where MGI’s AlphaJet was centre stage and showing the benefits of a complete single-pass factory. This was a showing of the most advanced end-to-end smart factory digital production lines ever shown in public. It underlined pioneering digital transformation on a scale never seen at the exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany. Visitors saw at close quarters how Konica Minolta is holistically combining expertise as it continues to help customers with their digital transformation and grow their business profitably.
 

Strong focus on sustainability 

On the booth over the 11 days, there was a strong focus on sustainability, the value of print and how customers can “See the Potential in the Future of Print”, Konica Minolta’s main messaging for drupa. The technology leader demonstrated ways of sustainable production in line with the philosophy of Industry 5.0. This was achieved by assistance technology, labour-saving and skill-less operations by improving the total throughput of all processes, not only printing.

An important focus for Konica Minolta was demonstrating how all its wide range of digital presses help customers with their digital transformation. These ranged from the AccurioPress C14000e toner press with over 2,100 installations worldwide through to the AccurioLabel toner presses that have reached the milestone figure of 1,500 installs. During the show, partner MGI’s JETvarnish 3D Web 400 digital embellishment system – that is the perfect addition to Konica Minolta’s AccurioLabel 400 – won the EDP (European Digital Press Association) prestigious Digital Embellishment Packaging award, which honour best-in-class innovations.

Konica Minolta’s next generation HS-UV Inkjet Press, AccurioJet 60000, which was shown for the first time in public, was one important highlight among the 30 systems running live at drupa. This high-end model follows the quality and technology of the AccurioJet KM-1e series and has a remarkable capacity of 6,000 B2 sheets per hour (sph), as well as excellent image quality. Another machine making its world debut at drupa was Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C84hc press, which uses high chroma toner to print bright vivid colours consistently.

For More Information, visit Konica Minolta drupa 2024 dedicated site at https://www.konicaminolta.eu/eu-en/drupa2024