OREANDA-NEWS. September 10, 2015. Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) and Konica Minolta Business Solutions Japan Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta BJ), Konica Minolta’s domestic sales company for its Business Technologies Business, will showcase the KM-1, a 29.5-inch cut-sheet UV inkjet press to be launched in the spring of 2016, at IGAS 2015, Japan’s largest international show of printing machinery and materials held at Tokyo Big Sight from September 11 to 16, 2015.

Background to and purpose of development

Today, a shift from analog to digital printing is rapidly underway in the commercial print market due to a growing demand for high-mix low-volume production, shorter production time, one-to-one marketing*1 and variable printing*2.

Konica Minolta has two key plateless printing technologies; namely, inkjet, and electronic photography technologies. Since 1999, Konica Minolta has been developing digital printing systems for users in the commercial print field, leveraging its prowess in electronic photography technologies. Konica Minolta’s KM-1, a B2 cut-sheet inkjet press presented as a technology showcase at drupa 2012 – one of the biggest international printing shows in the world – garnered high praise, especially for its image reproduction quality and its ability to print on a wide variety of paper media. In IGAS 2015, Konica Minolta will show to the public the market-ready version of the KM-1, which is to be launched in the spring of 2016.

Major features of the KM-1

The KM-1 is a UV inkjet press co-developed by Konica Minolta and KOMORI Corporation*3.

Outstanding image quality comparable to that of a sheet-fed offset press

The KM-1 can cover the entire process of creation of a wide range of printed products with its outstanding reproducibility of sharp-edged, high density images and characters.

Consistency in color reproduction quality

Even after continuous long-time use, the KM-1 can produce prints of consistent density and color tone, thus ensuring high print quality at all times.

Ability to print on a wide variety of paper media

The KM-1 can handle paper of different thicknesses, ranging from thin tissue paper to packaging paper. The KM-1 can also print, without the necessity of pre-coating, on rough paper, Japanese paper, and other types of paper that are difficult to print using a conventional press.

Ability to accommodate paper up to 23 x 29.5 inches in size, larger than B2

With the ability to print on a sheet of paper slightly larger in size than B2, the KM-1 offers greater efficiency and versatility in the imposition process. For example, users can lay six pages out on a sheet of paper and print them to make double gatefold brochures or letterhead sheets.

Main specifications

Max. paper size 585 x 750 mm (23 x 29.5 inches)
Print resolution 1,200 x 1,200 dpi
Print speed 3,000 sph (single side), 1,500 sph (both sides)
Printable paper Printing paper (coated paper, non-coated paper, special paper)
Pre-coating is not necessary.
Paper thickness 0.06?0.6 mm (single side), 0.06?0.45 mm (both sides)
Printhead Shear mode piezo printhead of Konica Minolta’s proprietary development
Ink Four-color (YMCK) UV ink of Konica Minolta’s proprietary development for exclusive use

Living up to the brand proposition, “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta remains committed to helping customers enhance their corporate value by offering higher-quality products and services from customers’ perspectives, in response to the ever-diversifying printing needs in the commercial print market.

*1:
A marketing strategy carried out in response to the interest and preference of individual customers in a way that best serves their needs.
*2:
A technique to print different texts and images using the same layout
*3:
Konica Minolta partnered with KOMORI Corporation in the development of the KM-1, with Konica Minolta developing the inkjet printhead; ink; image formation and processing system; and the RIP, and KOMORI developing the paper feeding unit. Also, Konica Minolta produces the inkjet printhead, ink and the RIP, while outsourcing the production of the print body, paper feeding unit and final assembly to KOMORI. KOMORI sells the KM-1 on an OEM basis under the name Impremia IS-29.