Home News Konica Minolta connects with customers at virtual drupa

Konica Minolta connects with customers at ‘virtual.drupa’

| 12 May 2021

Greater automation, sustainability and increased demand for embellishment technologies and software solutions were among key messages from customers who joined Konica Minolta for its online presence at ‘virtual.drupa’.

The technology leader showcased latest innovations to demonstrate to the global print community how customers can grow their business with highly automated systems, increased productivity and efficiency with advanced digital solutions.

Experts from Konica Minolta played an active role in web sessions covering a wide array of topics. They provided examples of how customers’ businesses have been really transformed through its technology and software, with the shift towards digital in some areas accelerating in the pandemic. Discussion themes also included how multi-channel communications such as QR codes, Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are taking print into a new world, connecting directly with digital media and the internet. Intuitive software to improve performance – such as AccurioPro Dashboard, AccurioPro Flux in combination with the Trimming unit TU-510 and the intelligent quality care unit IQ-501 – were also highlighted in order to show how easy workflow automation can be.

Presentations covered the power of embellishment in conjunction with business partner MGI, an in-depth look at automated digital print production and a special focus on the MOTIONCUTTER Digital High-Speed Laser System.

The fast-growing sectors of digital labels and packaging production were also spotlighted. A key spotlight was the AccurioLabel 230 roll-to-roll digital toner press, which now has 800 units installed across the world. Konica Minolta only started its adventure into the labels business area five years ago and now has a top-ranked labels market share of 33.9%. Two defining trends are e-commerce and sustainability, according to Edoardo Cotichini, Senior Manager, Professional Print at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe. Labels and packaging are specific growth areas for Konica Minolta, which announced its European launch of the PKG-675i inkjet press for the fast-growing short-run corrugated packaging market earlier this year.

Another feature was Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1e, which provided the basis for a presentation entitled, “Unexpected Printing”. This B2+ inkjet sheetfed production press was formally launched at drupa in 2016 and has been dubbed the “Swiss Army Knife” of printing because it has so many uses. It was also revealed that Konica Minolta now has around 200 installations worldwide, of which 20% are within Europe, revealed Hidetoshi Omo, Konica Minolta’s Head of Competence KM-1, from the Industrial Pan-European Showroom in Bratislava, Slovakia, one of the venues for product demonstrations.

Prokom, the global user group of Konica Minolta print customers, also had a presence at ‘virtual.drupa’. ‘Connect, learn and grow’ were the central messages for the presentation.

All presentations can be seen by clicking on the links immediately below:

Although a ‘virtual.drupa’ will never be a match for the physical presence of being at a show, as an online platform it gave us an opportunity to engage with and help our customers rethink possibilities. We also did take away a number of sales leads and new ideas to develop and are happy – since the date for the next ‘live’ drupa has just been announced – we are happy to build on the success of this virtual version of the most important fair in the industry in 2024.

Olaf Lorenz

Senior General Manager Digital Transformation Division, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe

Boilerplate

About Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe

Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH, based in Langenhagen, Germany, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Inc., Tokyo, Japan. With its unique expertise in imaging, data processing and data-based decision making, Konica Minolta creates relevant solutions for its customers - small and medium-sized businesses, large enterprises and public sector - and solves issues faced by society.

As a digital workplace solution provider, Konica Minolta helps its clients to identify and unlock the potential digitalisation holds and reach the next level in the digital maturity of their organisation by rethinking the workplace. In support of an ‘Intelligent connected workplace’, Konica Minolta offers cloud, IT, managed print and video solution services for remote working, collaboration, workflow management and automation and security. The company’s success in driving transformation is also confirmed by IDC, since the ‘IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Print Transformation 2023 Vendor Assessment’ has named Konica Minolta a “Leader” in print transformation. Konica Minolta has been a Microsoft Global Managed Partner since 2021.

Konica Minolta's Igniting Print Possibilities offering helps printers, converters and brand owners maximise workflow automation to increase efficiency. The company delivers consultancy in all communication matters as well as top-of-the-line production, packaging as well as label printers. Its finishing devices create print products that stand out and create added value. Konica Minolta has established itself as the production printing market leader for more than a decade in Europe (InfoSource).

For an increasing number of organisations, success today is more than the narrow definition of financial prosperity – it also includes protecting the environment and having a positive impact on their workforce as well as the societies they are embedded in. With its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Konica Minolta has pledged to consistently pursue its sustainability and social responsibility goals.

The company has been repeatedly recognised for its rich history of social contribution as well as for working towards achieving the SDGs throughout its business and supply chain. Konica Minolta received a GOLD Level Recognition Medal in the EcoVadis sustainability ratings for 2023.

For its remote services, Konica Minolta was awarded the prestigious ‘Buyers Lab (BLI) 2023-2024 Pacesetter Award in Remote Service for the Western European market’ from Keypoint Intelligence.

Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe is represented by subsidiaries and distributors in more than 80 countries in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. With more than 8,700 employees (as of April 2023), Konica Minolta Europe earned net sales of over EUR 2.26 billion in financial year 2022/2023.

Worldwide, the company has over 39,000 employees and is operating in over 150 countries.

For more information, please visit https://www.konicaminolta.eu/eu-en/news and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Terms and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are hereby acknowledged.

Contact

Silke Ehmann-Cotichini

Team Manager Brand Positioning & Architecture

Silke.Ehmann-Cotichini@konicaminolta.eu

+49 (0) 151 622-06-281