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Konica Minolta’s AccurioLabel 400 toner press is on track for first installations by early 2023 amid reports of market shifts that show 48% of converters are planning investments in new digital label presses within two years. Targeting mid- to high-volume label converters, the AccurioLabel 400 will provide affordable top-quality digital printing.
With the AccurioLabel 400, market-leader Konica Minolta aims to capture a further significant share of a fast-growing sector that has an estimated 3,000-plus label converters in the mid- and high-volume sectors. As FINAT President Philippe Voet makes clear in his association’s latest report and analysis for the European narrow web market, “Labels are an indispensable enabler of the critical infrastructure”.¹
“One in five (21%) converter respondents project they will purchase a digital press in 2022, while more than a third (37%) of respondents indicated that they will purchase a digital press in 2023,” says the same FINAT RADAR report¹. “Label converters are reporting that their digital business has increased significantly given the pandemic and the continued need for rush-driven ordering.”
With FINAT RADAR also confirming that 2022 is an “extremely robust year for capital equipment purchasing”, the findings also underpin Konica Minolta’s own view that there are opportunities everywhere for converters to rethink possibilities against a background of rising energy and raw material prices, and growing shortages of skilled labour.
Data from research analysts IDC shows the western European digital labels and packaging production printer market is expected to increase at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 13.1% in a five-year period to 2025². IDC states², “The AccurioLabel 400 pushes the envelope on automation, speed, flexibility, and colour capabilities, enabling Konica Minolta to further penetrate the L&P market. The introduction of white cannot be overstated — the label converters in the mid- to high-volume space will welcome the business opportunities brought by this colour addition.” The report adds that the new press “also underlines Konica Minolta's commitment to innovation and to driving growth in the L&P market”.
Important developments of the new AccurioLabel 400 press include the ability to expand applications with white toner, improved productivity with superfast print speeds of up to 39.9 metres per minute, and further running cost reductions thanks to even more durable parts life, as well as enhanced print quality. It is available in 4- and 5-colour configurations.
“Feedback from initial internal testing and first public showcases of the AccurioLabel 400 has been extremely positive,” said Carsten Bamberg, Business Development Manager, Professional Printing Group at Konica Minolta Europe. “The new press brings another level of opportunity to enable print transformation in mid- and high-volume production markets for forward-thinking label converters. Based on discussions with label converters and our own market analysis, we also recognise that workflow, software and process automation, and cloud solutions are key drivers to increasing levels of automation and efficiencies as part of the drive towards the smart factory.”
He added: “We are excited at the opportunities that the AccurioLabel 400 will deliver – they are everywhere for customers wanting to ignite printing possibilities. This press will also be an exciting option for AccurioLabel 230 customers who are already growing their own business in label production and packaging.”
Important benefits of the Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 400 include:
For more information please visit AccurioLabel 400 label printing machine | KONICA MINOLTA
¹ FINAT Radar 17, 2022 Summer Edition/1st semester 2022: “Analysis: The European Narrow Web Market” ² DC Market Note, Konica Minolta Unveils AccurioLabel 400, doc # EUR149276522, June 2022
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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.
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