Konica Minolta is already a major developer of inkjet technology, which so far has been used in the textile industry. The two companies have also entered a global sales agreement, which will begin at drupa, and will see Komori selling Konica Minolta printers, although not in Australia.
The inkjet project marks Komori’s entrance into the rapidly developing field, in which it was in danger of being left behind by German press manufacturers. KBA and RR Donnelly will launch a jointly developed inkjet press at drupa, manroland and Oce will show the firstfruits of their year old agreement, Heidelberg as yet has no inkjet press of its own, but is developing its Linoprint inkjet technology, and is now a global partner of Ricoh, which owns the InfoPrint press technology, which along with Oce is market leader in high speed inkjet.
This year’s drupa will see a host of inkjet technologies, some commercially available and some in prototype form, on display, and which will be the main story of the show.
Local Konica Minolta management is unable to make a statement about the deal at this stage, as are Komori agents Ferrostaal New Zealand but both intend making statements prior to drupa.
While the preview of Konica Minolta’s high speed inkjet is likely to grab the headlines at drupa 2012, Konica Minolta will also unveil a new colour bizhub press, faster mono presses and an inline three edge cutting device.
At drupa 2012, Konica Minolta will showcase its biggest booth to date. Encompassing a 2,000 sqm footprint, the booth’s size is indicative of the company’s expected future growth.
Konica Minolta will supply Komori Corporation with bizhub press series across four regions of Japan, the US, Europe and China, and under the Komori brand on an OEM basis, Konica Minolta will expand its distribution channels to customers who use offset print systems as their main production system. In Australia Konica Minolta presses are sold by Heidelberg under an agreement which has another 15 months to run.
