Upadhyay Colour Copier adds AccurioPress C12000 digital press

-Lucknow Printer already owns a C12000 and an MGI from Konica Minolta.

India, 30 August,2024: Upadhyay Colour Copier, a Lucknow-based provider of digital printed commodities, recently enhanced its production portfolio by installing a new AccurioPress C12000 from Rovica Minolta, The printer, which already owns a C12000 digital press and an MGI foiling machine from Konica Minolta, says satisfaction with its earlier machines, and timely after-sales service from the digital press manufacturer, prompted it to go for a new machine from the company.

Established in 2009, the business is located in Lucknow’s Haiderganj area. The owner, Pawan Upadhyay, who started as a photocopier, noticed the growing customer demand for more printed products, showing him a market space to capture. The commercial printer initially invested in a 4-color machine. Visiting cards, leaflets, letterheads, wedding cards, greeting cards, and projects for school and college students are some of its products.

The AccurioPress C12000 comes with inbuilt automated technology to deliver better productivity, reducing turnaround times to a minimum. It is known for consistency in simplex and duplex printing for inline business cards and postcard cutting with 3,600 X 2,400 dpi resolution. It can perfectly bind books of up to 30 mm in width.

Upadhyay says Lucknow printers are shy of incorporating digital embellishments, foiling, and embossing techniques in their production even to this day. “In early 2022, we installed an MGI digital foiling machine from Konica Minolta, After printing on our digital presses, we give them a run through on the MGI and anyone who came with any job since then has ended up as our repeat customer.”

Students living near the Haiderganj area are repeat customers of the commercial printer. “We were told by the students that their faculty was quite impressed with the projects that had embellishments or foiling and even set that as a minimum standard for any submission. A good presentation is a good presentation. It’s the era of finishing as a result of which these novel techniques, are in strong demand,” he said.

On the commercial printing scenario in Lucknow, Upadhyay says government work has been reduced to a great extent. “Part of their cost cutting strategies, as we were told.” Upadhyay said. “Heavy losses came with the digitization of banking sectors as most commercial jobs came from there. However, we see it as a transition. Newer technologies are on the rise. We have to unlearn the obsolete and get a better understanding of the new, keeping market demands into consideration.”

Upadhyay Colour Copier sents its products to Firozabad, Lakhimpur Kanpur, Gonda, Varanasi and other nearby cities, while also supplying short- a packaging through third-party contracts for personal use commodities run such as shampoo, oil, or other cosmetics. According to Upadhyay, Uttar Pradesh (barring NCR) is at the initial stages of developing the know-how of the packaging industry, and the coming five years will be crucial,”If printers have a growth mindset, they will learn that new technologies with automated features and cloud computing are the way ahead. Traditional printers seldom change their operational machines. Older businesses are reluctant to revamp their infrastructure if a machine has no defect. Adoption and open-mindedness are necessary, unwillingness to advance technologically could be fatal as customers only desire what’s latest.”

Lucknow’s Amar Fax Services eyes offset printing & packaging

-Commercial printer installs two Konica Minolta AccurioPress C12000.

India, 27 August,2024: Lucknow-hased Amar Fax Services, a provider of books, business cards, pamphlets, menus, high-end invitation cards, point of sale (POS) material, and other print products, installed two AccurioPress C12000 from Tomca Minoltat each of its units in Hazaratganj and Aliganj. The commercial printer provides printed commodities to educational institutions, banks, government, and private offices-supplying to most of Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Delhi-NCR.

The company plans a significant expansion in offset printing and rigid box packaging printing next year with the installation of a Komori 15 press at a new unit on Sitapur Road, which it will name Amar Offset. The company is also in talks to establish a fourth unit for digital printing in Alambagh, covering all major markets in Lucknow. Amar Fax Services was started by directors Surjeet Singh and Harpal Singh at a time when printing was not considered a profitable business option,Initially, users of analog machines from Xerox, the company, established in 1989, switched to digital to meet speed and quality demand with media flexibility. At present, the company owns several digital presosas from Komica Minolta installed in the last eight years.

Other digital color production presses acquired by Amar Fax include the AccurioPress 101, C1100, C6300, C1060, three pro-1100 black and white presses, KIP and HP wide format output devices and a Xerox Map machine,Talling to Indian Printer and Publisher, Surjeet said, “During our inception, we utilized analog machines from Xerox along with a plan printer (for maps) as there weren’t any providers of big maps, making it the first in Lucknow. we utilized analog machines from Xerox along with a plan printer (for maps) as there weren’t any providers of big maps, making it the first in Lucknow. Eventually, during the 90s, we added color presses from Xerox. During the early 2010s, we were introduced to digital machines that could easily fit on our shop floors. After a few demonstrations and witnessing the print quality, our inclination grew towards Konica Minolta.”

Harpal discussed the improvement in efficiency enabled by the digital presses. Talking about the latest equipment and the overall success of the Konica Minolta digital presses, he said, “We have installed an MGI JV3D One machine in our Aliganj unit. It was the second machine in Lucknow, It has UV inkjet technology combined with drop-on-demand printheads for high quality and speed. It has a software suite that allows you to follow jobs, manage job queues, create job tickets, recall reprints, and adjust your AIS scanner.

On the state of the market, Surjeet sald competition has increased and rates. are falling, making it difficult for printers to stay profitable. “It is our legacy that is providing us a strong standing. After the pandemic, a good number of printing businesses were shut. Now profit depends on volume, which is a motivator to move toward offset. Advancing technology kept us ahead of our market peers back in the 90s and we expect a similar effect when we launch our offset unit,” he said.

Lucknow-based Ekjot Printers gets AccurioPress C12000

-Commercial and signage printer talk about stagnation in business.

India, 26 August,2024: Ekjot Printers, a signage, commercial printer, and supplier from Lucknow, recently installed an AccurioPress C12000 from Konica Minolta to enhance production speed, quality, and decrease turnaround time.
The Alambagh-hased printer that supplies widely to local businesses has seen steady growth despite being relatively new to the business with Covid striking within the first two years of its establishment in 2018. Proprietor Gurdeep Singh, though, stayed optimistic in the hope of capturing the printing market sooner or later.

Alambagh, located on the road towards Kanpur, is a commercially bustling area with wholesale markets for fruits and vegetables, and shops for smartphone repair, clothes, and sweets. During our visit, the roadsides were filled with dozens of vendors selling rakhi. The area was especially busy due to the Metro and bus stand with the narrow roads occupied by eRickshaw and rickshaw pullers.

Flex, vinyl glowing sign boards, roll-up stands, and pamphlets comprise Singh’s signage business and for commercial printing, he makes posters, visiting cards, calendars, stickers, brochures, letter pads, wedding cards, and billbooks. The commercial business includes short-run digital book printing with in-house binding. The C12000 press was installed as the proprietor was impressed with the machine’s speed and quality of print. He also owns presses from Epson and Canon.

Singh, who has an experience in printing, started Ekjot Printers with monocolor machines. “I have worked at printing presses and wanted to have a business of my own. During my initial days, the commercial printing market was booming with all sorts of jobs and requirements. Post-Covid, the market wasn’t the same. During the pandemic, many new digital mediums became available, especially in the education and banking sectors. The demands kept falling,” Singh said.

Although the printer has witnessed decent year-on-year growth, the profit margins keep on fluctuating. “The commercial printing market in Lucknow is not doing well. Fluctuating paper prices and shortage of jobs affect businesses. We are standing due to our consistent supply that reaches all across UP. Occasionally, we get some business from Japan or the US,” he said.

The commercial printer is not considering any expansion at the moment as the market is not stable. “As of now, we plan to stick with what we have and what we have been doing. As printers, we are looking forward to some support from the government. We need better subsidies and some reductions in tax as the margins are not in favor of small-cap commercial printers,” he added.

Konica Minolta introduces AccurioPress 7136 series in India

-Designed to help commercial printers, print-for-pay services, and central in-house printing facilities expand their business and improve operational efficiency.

India, 16 August,2024: Konica Minolta Business Solutions India has launched AccurioPress 7136 series in the Indian market. Offering the next generation of monochrome digital printing presses, AccurioPress 7136 series is designed to help commercial printers, print-for-pay services, and central in-house printing facilities expand their business and improve operational efficiency. The new series is available in India from August 2024.

Building upon the success of the AccurioPress 6136 series, the AccurioPress 7136 series will include the launch of three models – AccurioPress 7136/AccurioPress 7136P, (136ppm) and AccurioPress 7120 (120ppm) offering increased operational efficiency through improved automation and greater production flexibility with A3 and other paper options.

Commenting on introducing the print series in the Indian market, Mr. Manish Gupta, Head, Product Lifecycle Management & Planning Division, said, “In launching the AccurioPress 7136 series, Konica Minolta pioneers solutions that champion business expansion and customer centricity. Our focus on usability, security, and dependability meets the demands of a digital-heavy yet print-dependent world. This next-generation technology empowers businesses to grow and thrive, offering flexibility and innovation in digital printing, like no other. We are proud to introduce this range to Indian print businesses, a market that thrives on ingenuity and versatility.”

Reflecting on the launch, Kalyani Kumari Dubey- Product Manager, Product Lifecycle Management & Planning Division – Production Print Business – Monochrome, said, “This launch is for connecting print businesses with technology that is not only robust and scalable but also offers great reliability through improvements in feeding mechanism and actual life. With a plethora of possible configurations, thoughtfully designed to meet the varied business requirements, the AccurioPress 7136 will be a quantum leap for print businesses in the monochrome segment. The series’ seamless integration into existing workflows via AccurioPro solutions combined with its versatility, makes it an inimitable solution for achieving best in class productivity and operational efficiency.”

The AccurioPress 7136 series offers high production capability with monthly print volume of up to 3.24 million pages per month. Capacitated to handle a wide range of media, including coated-uncoated from 40gsm up to 350gsm, the AccurioPress 7136 series meets the demands of businesses’ most challenging printing projects.

The printing range comes with an option of suction paper feeder for high media feeding reliability. Entrusted with image rotation and skew correction feature along with pre-uploaded paper profiles simplify setup and minimize errors. Additionally, optional IQ-501 intelligent quality Optimizer unit automates density and registration adjustments for flawless printing. The AccurioPress 7136 makes workflows seamless through linkage of AccurioPro with Solutions (AccurioPro Flux). OpenAI connectivity ensures compatibility with Konica Minolta devices, AccurioPro workflows, and third-party solutions for a fully integrated printing ecosystem. Additionally, the series comes equipped with AccurioPro Print Manager that helps optimize the print job management.

Accurio Press 7136 series offers a staggering 728 different configuration possibilities with Konica Minolta’s own finishing options, including the innovative inline trimming unit TU-510 that saves time and labour costs.

Championing environmental responsibility, the AccurioPress 7136 series has cleared standard Typical Energy Consumption (TEC) values for version 3.2 of the international ENERGY STAR Program, that helps to reduce CO2 emissions through reduced energy consumption.The AccurioPress 7136 aims to expedite innovation in digital print production technology, empowering commercial printers and associated players to achieve new levels of efficiency and business growth.

Konica Minolta’s ‘Pravah’ to Sustainably Irrigate Rural Uttar Pradesh with NGO Manav Vikas Sanstha

-Project ‘Pravah’ constructed 2 check dams in identified villages in partnership with the NGO Manav Vikas Sanstha.

-The CSR Initiative was focused in Motipur, and Gabbapur Kalan, in the Sirsia block of Shravasti District of Uttar Pradesh.

-The project fulfilled 6 SDG’s and is expected to benefit over 6,868 individuals cumulatively.

India, 14 August,2024: Konica Minolta, a global leader in digital imaging and document management solutions, successfully implemented the launch of its CSR initiative, ‘Pravah’, in partnership with the NGO Manav Vikas Sanstha, on 23rd July 2024. This project addressed the pressing issue of water scarcity by constructing check dams in the identified villages of Motipur and Gabbapur Kalan villages of Shravasti district, Uttar Pradesh. These water conservation structures are expected to bring control over water flow and effective utilization of these natural resources, especially during the unpredictable time of rains.

With ‘Pravah’, Konica Minolta constructed 2 check dams to effectively manage rainwater, recharge ground water levels, improve soil fertility, and enhance the overall quality of life for
the region’s residents. By harnessing the power of water conservation, Pravah contributed significantly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of No Poverty, Good Health & Well-being, Clean Water & Sanitation, Sustainable Cities & Communities, Responsible
Consumption & Production, and Climate Action.

Commenting on the project, Mr. Katsuhisa Asari, Managing Director, Konica Minolta Business Solutions India, said, “Immunizing the citizens against climate variability during compromised water availability, can lend them critical support to several people, bereft of access to clean, usable water. With the support of Manav Vikas Sanstha, we have established a water user group, bring forth a participatory approach and empowering local communities to take ownership of their natural resources, while being the prime beneficiaries of their efforts.”

Commenting on the project, Sustainability Promotion Department, Konica Minolta Business Solutions India, said, “This project is structured to create sustainable livelihoods for 6,868 people, by boosting groundwater levels through the construction of check dams
and new opportunities in organic farming for women. With the multitude of SDGs we fulfil with Pravah, we hope that challenges of water scarcity in Motipur and Gabbapur Kalan see relief and sets the tone for a thriving rural life in the identified villages.”

Konica Minolta is working closely the NGO Manav Vikas Sanstha, local communities, and government agencies to implement Pravah effectively. The project is designed to create a lasting impact by integrating water conservation and sustainable water resources
management practices into the region’s development plans.

Katsuhisa Asari: Our strong market presence in India reflects our commitment

India, 14 August,2024: Konica Minolta in India has the widest portfolio in the industry which empowers the customers to choose based on their needs and market demands, Katsuhisa Asari, managing, director, Konica Minolta Business Solutions India, tells Rahul Kumar.

Rahul Kumar (RK): At Drupa this year, Konica Minolta had the seventh-largest booth and at least 20 product premiers. The focus was on end-to-end solutions. How did the market respond to your offers?

Katsuhisa Asari (KA): Konica Minolta had a substantial presence at Drupa, highlighted by a vast booth and numerous product launches, which generated immense excitement and interest. Our focus on end-to-end solutions resonated strongly with the market. The ability to showcase over 30 hardware and 25 software products, including inline finishing options for production presses, demonstrated our comprehensive approach to addressing customer needs. We looked upon the opportunity to present end-to-end solutions to the customers from pre-press, press to post-press solutions, including embellishment. The customers were excited to see the solutions and as a one-stop OEM to their needs in the production environment with automation.

RK: Konica Minolta’s approach appears to be a one-stop solution provider, offering, “the print room of the future.” Could you explain this approach?

KA:Konica Minolta aims to revolutionise the printing industry by transitioning from analogue to digital processes. We offer a holistic solution, encompassing commercial, label, packaging, and industrial printing. Our extensive product range, coupled with pre- and post-printing solutions, positions us as a one-stop shop, optimising efficiency and minimising environmental impact.

RK: What’s new at Konica Minolta? At Drupa, there were talks about programmatic printing with AI and Industry 5.0 focusing on sustainability…

KA:Konica Minolta is at the forefront of industry transformation. Our Drupa showcase featured groundbreaking technologies, including AI-driven programmatic printing and sustainability-focused Industry 5.0 initiatives. Ex Kansei, a predictive software utilising eye-tracking data, offers invaluable insights into consumer behaviour. By understanding attention, impression, and positioning, businesses can make data-driven decisions to optimise marketing materials. It also includes the first-of-its-kind B1 size digital inkjet press Alphajet with spot UV and digital Foil. We also launched our next generation B2 size Digital Press KM 60000 with printing. Among solutions, we also demonstrated KM strength in inkjet head technologies and colour management.

RK: Today, the line between a commercial printer and a converter is getting blurred, with most commercial printing venturing into packaging as well. Under these circumstances, who are your ideal customers? What are your approaches to reaching out to them?

KA:The printers and packaging converters are now feeling the need to expand and offer more solutions to the changing requirements of the customers, primarily because of the number of SKUs and personalisation/customisation options. Konica Minolta targets businesses entering the cosmetics, FMCG, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors, which require short-run, high-quality packaging. Our comprehensive solutions, including smart and sustainable packaging options, perfectly align with their needs. By educating customers about packaging opportunities, we expand their business horizons and create new growth avenues.

RK: How is your label press business doing? Is anything new on this front?

KA:Our label press business is thriving due to increased demand from new market entrants. The ease of use of digital printing is encouraging more companies to get into digital label printing, a segment which is fast growing. The AccurioLabel 400, with its white ink capability, caters to a broader range of industries. We are optimistic about continued growth in this segment.

RK: Inkjet is the talk of the town. You have done a lot of work on the inkject technology. What’s the latest?

KA: Inkjet technology is rapidly gaining prominence, and Konica Minolta is at the forefront of this revolution. Our latest inkjet innovation, the AccurioJet 60000, made its debut at Drupa. This high-speed, UV inkjet press boasts impressive speeds of 6,000 sheets per hour while delivering exceptional image quality. Building upon the success of our AccurioJet KM-1e series, the AccurioJet 60000 offers enhanced features and usability, providing customers with maximum value and efficiency. We also demonstrated the new Alphajet B1 size inkjet press with UV and foil and the inkjet solutions from MGI for spot UV and digital foil.

RK: Recently, we read that Fujifilm Business Innovation and Konica Minolta are planning to form a strategic alliance involving production printing devices, multifunction and office printers. Please share some details.

KA: We have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin a feasibility study for a strategic alliance in the multifunction printer (MFP), office printer and production printer segments.

RK: How is Konica Minolta doing in India? Could you please share the latest installation numbers? What according to you is the most popular KM product in India?

KA: Konica Minolta holds a dominant position in India’s digital production printing market, boasting a market share exceeding 50%. Our comprehensive product portfolio caters to a diverse clientele, ensuring that businesses of all sizes can find tailored solutions to optimize their operations. This strong market presence is a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional products and services to our Indian customers. Currently, Konica Minolta in India has the widest portfolio in the industry, which empowers customers to choose based on their needs and market demands. We provide solutions to all the major segments in the printing business including commercial printers, packaging printers, print shops, label converters, service bureaus, book printers, etc.

RK: In the last two years, Konica Minolta India conducted several roadshows to reach out to customers in tier-2, and tier-3 cities. How successful was the initiative?

KA: Being a market leader in digital production printing in India for more than a decade, we take this opportunity to expand the market to smaller cities and create more opportunities for printers to embrace the benefits of digital printing. The PrintXpress flagship roadshows have been instrumental in expanding Konica Minolta’s footprint across India. By reaching previously untapped markets in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, we have identified significant growth potential. Moreover, our initiative to empower local entrepreneurs with the right tools for charting a lucrative career in the printing industry has induced much-needed impetus in the overall development of the printing industry in these regions.

RK: What’s next in your plan to capture the digital printing market in India?

KA:Konica Minolta is dedicated to the long-term success of our Indian customers. Our future plans involve the development of cutting-edge, sustainable solutions that address the evolving needs of the market. By combining innovation with a deep understanding of customer requirements, we aim to drive efficiency, profitability, and growth for businesses of all sizes.

Katsuhisa Asari: In Brief

Your proudest achievement in the Drupa year?

The successful launch of the AccurioJet 60000 stands as our proudest moment. Gauging the overwhelmingly positive response from customers and industry experts, we are proud our innovations are so well-received.

Who is a typical KM customer?

Our ideal customer is a forward-thinking business seeking to create and optimise their printing business. Whether it’s a commercial printer, packaging converter, or in-house print department, we offer tailored solutions to enhance efficiency, productivity, and output quality.

Which is your popular press model?

KA:The KM-1e remains a highly sought-after press due to its exceptional reliability, versatility, and image quality. It has consistently delivered outstanding performance for our customers across various applications, making it a cornerstone of our product line.

How much of your business comes from repeat customers?

Our strong base of repeat customers is a testament to our commitment to customer satisfaction and long-term partnerships. Their continued trust in Konica Minolta is a driving force behind our success and reinforces our position as a reliable industry leader.

What’s your team’s favourite print success story among small business units in India?

It would not be right to mention one as a favourite success story because as I have already mentioned for us it is about the uniqueness of every customer and we value that as for us every installation is equally important because it is not only a machine purchase it is a long term association which is built between the customer and the brand, machine installation is just a beginning of that bond and relationship.

Konica Minolta showcases future of print at drupa 2024

India, 28 June,2024: Konica Minolta’s showcase at drupa 2024 was a digital evolution of printing technology, featuring pioneering print technology from the brand’s trusted 150-year legacy. Next-generation HS-UV inkjet press, AccurioJet 60000, debuted worldwide at drupa. The flagship model follows the quality and technology of the AccurioJet KM-1e series. The inkjet press produces 6,000 sheets per hour, and offers double-sided printing capabilities in a single pass.

Other noteworthy mentions were AccurioPress C84hc, which uses high chroma toner to print bright vivid colors consistently. It is the world’s only platform that uses the new high-chroma toner, free of the restrictions imposed by the color gamut of ordinary CMYK toners. AccurioPress C14000e toner press for high-volume production along with complete post-press finishing operation was demonstrated.

Konica Minolta’s Production Print (PP) segment offered a powerful performance. The stage was filled with an impressive array of equipment, including the AccurioPress C4070/4080, C84HC, and AccurioPress C14000E for the color spectrum, alongside the AccurioPress 7136 for the monospace. The true brilliance lay in the complete solutions presented with automation. Each machine was demonstrated within the context of a full workflow, where a printed output seamlessly transitioned to a finished output, ready to be delivered to customers, be it saddle stitching binding, finished business cards, postcards, books and many other finishing options.

The MGI AlphaJet showcased the advantages of a single-pass, fully automated B1 format printing factory with Spot UV and Foiling in one single pass. This revolutionary system eliminated the need for manual setups across different production lines, saving customers valuable space, energy, and personnel costs. Imagine an entire printing factory condensed into a single, efficient unit – that was the magic of the AlphaJet. Adding depth to MGI’s performance were the 3DW, Evo Octopus, Roll to Roll embellishment and foil.

AccurioLabel 400 and 230 label presses were demonstrated with prints on a variety of media. AccurioShine 3600 was presented with ifoil One solution, adding a touch of brilliance with its embellishment capabilities. Their ability to adapt to different materials ensured a perfect harmony between the press and the job at hand. The KM1e section was a hive of activity, buzzing with the excitement of innovation. The models the KM 1e HD and a newcomer, the KM 60000 B2 UV inkjet press, stole the show. This powerhouse churned out an impressive 3,000 B2 duplex sheets per hour, leaving the crowd in awe during live demonstrations.

The AccurioPro Flux Label Impose option demonstrated seamless working with Konica Minolta’s AccurioLabel presses, offering an all-in-one package for printing that allows print providers to import and impose artworks, manage print jobs, add variable data and print labels in one. Flux Label Impose also facilitates the correct data input for the creation of die tools, its VDP support with an intuitive user interface of 320 x 480 mm.

The exhibition also provided a glimpse into a future dominated by automation and artificial intelligence. Konica Minolta envisions a world where AI takes the helm, ensuring processes are not only faster and more efficient but also smarter. This forward-thinking approach aligns with the principles of Industry 5.0, which emphasizes the harmonious integration of human creativity and smart technology.

Konica Minolta unveils AccurioJet 60000 high-speed UV inkjet press at drupa 2024

India, 17 May,2024: Focusing on automation and maximizing throughput, Konica Minolta will launch the AccurioJet 60000 high-speed UV inkjet press at drupa 2024. The AccurioJet 60000 offers impressive quality and usability, printing up to 6000 sheets per hour (sph) in simplex and 3000 sph in duplex. It handles intricate designs and vibrant colors efficiently. The HS-UV ink technology ensures true color reproduction and can be automated, matching the gloss and vibrancy of offset printing in a single pass.

In addition, Konica Minolta will also showcase the AlphaJET, highlighting a future driven by automation and artificial intelligence. Developed with MGI digital technology, the AlphaJET integrates printing and finishing into one streamlined system. It streamlines the entire packaging printing process, from initial printing to embellishments like spot varnish and foil stamping, reducing turnaround times, minimizing waste, and promoting a cleaner work environment.

Drawing on its heritage in cameras and film, Konica Minolta manufactures heads used in its own printers and supplies them to a wide range of industrial printer manufacturers. Looking ahead, Konica Minolta plans to leverage its inkjet printing technology for industrial applications beyond traditional printing on paper and cardboard. These innovations align with Industry 5.0 principles, emphasizing a future where sustainability is a key focus.