Respondents to Keypoint Intelligence’s Global Software Investment Outlook reported 65% digital press use. Their target digital press use was73% which means many businesses are falling short of their digital press utilization targets.

At the same time, while automation is improving over time, full automation is still a long way off. Over half (51%) of respondents had mostly integrated automation, but only 2% were fully automated - Western Europe was more automated than North America.

So, how do we close this utilization gap?It starts with understanding where bottlenecks lie and taking targeted steps to optimize press performance.

Four Core Ways to Improve Utilization

  1. Analyze Current Utilization
    Regularly assess how much your press is in use versus idle. Pinpoint low-productivity time blocks, press downtime, or frequent job changeovers to determine where improvements can be made.
  2. Reduce Setup and Changeover Time
    Each time a new job is loaded, time is lost in calibration, media detection, and color matching. Streamlining this set up phase can dramatically increase productive hours.
  3. Optimize Job Scheduling
    Smart scheduling reduces gaps between jobs, enables better resource planning, and minimizes press idle time.
  4. Use Automation & Workflow Tools
    Integrated automation platforms can reduce human error, maintain consistency, and speed up routine tasks like color calibration and media selection.

Intelligent Utilization Tools

Increasing utilization is not about working harder - it's about working smarter.

Harnessing innovative technologies can help address these key utilization challenges head-on.

For example Konica Minolta’s IQ-601 Intelligent Quality Optimizer is a game-changing automation unit integrated into production presses. It brings hands-free, real-time quality control and color consistency directly to the press.

It helps with:

  • Automatic front-to-back registration for precise image alignment.
  • Real-time color control and adjustment with no manual intervention.
  • Reduced waste and setup time, improving uptime and press efficiency.
  • Ensuring color profiles remain consistent, job after job.

This results in fewer reprints, higher quality output, and - most importantly - more time printing.

There is also the IM-104 Intelligent Media Sensor that helps elimianate common causes of downtime such as media mismatches and feeding issues. The IM-104 Intelligent Media Sensor solves this by:

  • Automatically detecting media type and weight before the job runs.
  • Reducing the need for manual media input or trial-and-error configurations.
  • Preventing misfeeds or print quality issues caused by incorrect media settings.

By removing guesswork from the equation, the IM-104 helps reduce setup time, improves first-time-right prints, and keeps the press running smoothly.

Impressive capabilities

Presses feature inbuilt capabilites too. Konica Minolta's AccurioPress C10500/S series ensures consistent, high quality output with automatic print quality adjustments on the fly, meeting customers' expectations on every page.

The AccurioPress C14000 and C12000 digital presses feature advanced automation, high speed printing, and superior image quality, maximizing production and producing unparalleled quality and consistency print after print. The AccurioJet 30000, a B2 HS-UV inkjet press, offers new functions that improve productivity while continuing to use the proprietary HS-UV ink.

Closing the Utilization Gap

Advancements in press utilization ensure digital presses are not only efficient but also capable of delivering high-quality output with minimal intervention.

Utilization is a reflection of how effectively your operation is running. Bridging the gap between current and target utilization starts with adopting tools that reduce manual labour, eliminate errors, and optimize every moment of press time.

Intelligent software tools help businesses looking to elevate performance and meet growing production demands while ensuring every production minute counts.

Talk to Konica Minolta to see how we can help you identifiy your efficiency gaps and meet your utilization goals.

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