The arrival of the AccurioJet KM-1 at the Melbourne trade show drew lot of attention, even before the doors opened. The high-speed sheetfed UV inkjet is a radical departure for Konica Minolta, moving it up into the production market.
The Konica Minolta stand at PacPrint hosts over $6 million of equipment, most of it shown to the local market for the first time. It demonstrates the change of direction for the company as it embraces 'Industrial Printing' under the direction of David Procter, Anthony Lewis and David Cascarino. While still retaining and enhancing its digital toner commercial printing business, the aim now is to address more varied printing applications.
First off comes the move into half-size sheet (23” x 29.5) production print with the AccurioJet KM-1. Seen last year at drupa this is the first showing in Australia. It's not running live at the show. According to Anthony Lewis the set up time is far too long for the window available. There is a fabulous virtual reality tour on the stand where participants can seemingly step inside the machine to see how it operates. Quite a treat!
There is no confirmation of a first sale at this juncture, but Lewis has great expectations he'll be able to announce one before the closure of the show.
The AccurioJet KM-1 is undoubtedly the centrepiece of the Konica Minolta PacPrint show, but it's joined by a number of other new and innovative technologies, not least the Jet Varnish B1 digital embellishment press from MGI. A powerhouse of production it's part of the growing move to convert embellishment from analogue to digital.
Another foiling system, the FoilT is a joint venture between MGI and Konica Minolta (a moot point really as Konica Minolta has bought the French-based company). A clever use of toner and digital foiling the press can print as well as foil to create unique 'picture prints' in a matter of minutes.
Another step into foreign territory for Konica Minolta is the showcasing of the AccurioLabel C71cf, a roll-to-roll digital label press that is finding favour as an entry level technology with commercial printers as well as label converters. Even before it's official launch, four of the circa $250k engines have been bought into the local market.
Finally a very traditional printing piece of equipment given a new modular twist. The SD513 is a saddle stitcher and three-knife trimmer that can cope with volumes up to 300 pages thick. It can be attached to just about any Konica Minolta engine to transform it into complete production line.
If the technology on display at the Konica Minolta stand is any indication of what visitors can expect at this year's show, then it's going to be a ripper and a 'must not miss' event.