Konica Minolta has revealed that its AccurioJet KM-1 Digital Inkjet Press, which was commercially launched at drupa in 2016, has reached more than 30 installations globally – including new installs in Europe for January and February of this year. The first installation in Poland went live last month and an announcement on a significant agreement in France is due to be made this month, said the OEM. New business partnerships and branding for patented technology have also been announced as Konica Minolta continues to expand and grow market share in industrial and commercial printing markets. For example, Dot Freeze Technology is the new name for a special process for Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1 B2 Press where the ability to “freeze” the inkjet dot enables “perfect registration of colours and image stability.”
Customers confirm a delta E colour shift of no more than 1.5, which is “a major advantage for new customers who invest in this platform.” Other major plans for the Konica Minolta AccurioJet KM-1 include a fully automated inline finishing solution in partnership with Rollem International. The UK-based company will be providing a “bridge” that enables customers to automate their print processes and connect with other third-party finishing devices. These include US-based Harris and Bruno International, provider of high performance printing and coating equipment, which has become a chosen, approved partner to overcoat KM-1 prints. Five other companies have also been selected as official partners working with Konica Minolta on the development of its AccurioJet KM-1 system. They include:
- UK-based MIS provider Tharstern, that also has major operations in the USA and Australia.
- Itotec, a cutting machine manufacturer based in Japan.
- France-based Alwan Color Expertise, a global specialist in colour management, standardization and process control software.
- Scissor Hands from Las Vegas, Nevada, with its artificial intelligence technology, has brought evolution to cutting work on the AccurioJet KM-1, while DaVinciDesigner USA, an online print 3D proofer, provides special embossed finishes and textures. Both are part of Opensoft Incorporated.
- Ultimate TechnoGraphics, a Montreal-based company that develops and distributes cutting-edge technology to automate and facilitate imposition and finishing for the graphic arts industry.
“We’re progressing significantly and meeting our sales objectives, with having reached more than 30 installations worldwide,” said Mark Hinder, Head of Market Development at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe. “Feedback from customers using our technology has not only proved that the Konica Minolta AccurioJet KM-1 can sustain high quality and reliability, but is also providing customers with a unique platform to grow their businesses. This B2 digital press is becoming the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of the printing world because it has so many uses. It’s providing our customers with a tool to help them unlock new applications – some of which probably required many different techniques to produce in the past. Our customers never cease to amaze us with the innovative applications they develop with our technology, driven by imagination to deliver more.”
