Konica Minolta into high speed toner with C14000

Digital print solutions developer Konica Minolta is making its first foray into the high-volume toner printing segment with the launch of the new 140ppm AccurioPress C14000 colour printer.

The company is aiming to reach “new commercial print customers requiring high productivity, efficiency of operations, and quality, for direct mail, brochures and catalogues”.

The AccurioPress C14000 series received its worldwide premiere at the Printing United show in the US, with ANZ general manager Sue Threlfo at the event describing the new C14000 as “completely groundbreaking”.

It prints in CMYK at up to 140ppm A4, or 80ppm A3, with a resolution that the company says is equivalent to 3600 x 2400dpi. It has enhanced media capability up to 450 gsm, and a printing speed 40 per cent faster than the firm’s existing toner devices. It will be joined by the C12000, which prints at 120 A4ppm.

The new C14000 detects paper types automatically. It has inline trimming, slitting and creasing for full-bleed output, with simplex banner printing up to 129.5cm and duplex banner printing up to 90cm. The TU-510 Versatile Trimmer Unit also means the press can finish business cards inline.

Konica Minolta says its new flagship cut-sheet product “will maximise customer value based on opportunities for business expansion, accelerated operational efficiency and improved total cost of ownership (TCO) with faster investment return”.

Until now, Konica Minolta has not produced a toner-based high production print (HPP) product. Its AccurioJet KM-1 inkjet press - the latest just going into Imagination Graphics in Sydney - has been its flagship production model, with a speed of 3,000 sheets per hour, designed more for high-quality applications, similar to offset printing. The AccurioPress C6100s series for mid production print (MPP), on the other hand, are designed to support a responsive print room environment. Konica Minolta says the AccurioPress C14000 covers the gap between these two products in the HPP segment, offering a higher print volume and longer duty cycle, to reach new commercial print customers.

“This is an important global initiative for Konica Minolta, especially significant because we are not currently known for toner-based high-production print equipment,” said Olaf Lorenz, general manager DX Branding Division Konica Minolta Inc. “We are entering the HPP segment with a really high-quality press. The similarities in quality between traditional offset and what we can do with toner is astonishing, and we have worked hard to get here.”

Koji Sugie, executive officer, Konica Minolta Inc, said: “By increasing the efficiency of customer workflow from beginning to end, we aim to achieve the number one position in the high-production print market.”

The new C14000 works with Konica Minolta’s IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Care enhanced auto inspection options, which offer expanded inspection performance, verifying print quality and now detecting streaks and spots as well as blemishes. According to the company the high-quality prints mean maximum stability even during long run jobs, while better registration and quality increases total print volume. The new presses offer a highly reliable duty cycle of 2.5 million, with double the toner capacity of earlier models.

“The IQ-501 is a differentiator for us,” adds Lorenz. “While other manufacturers have similar technology, we believe our inline auto inspection unit will separate us from the pack of comparable devices.”

Konica Minolta recognises the launch of the AccurioPress C14000 and C12000 as a major opportunity to enter into the high-production print equipment segment. Both the AccurioPress series of printers and the IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Care are designed and offered to the market exclusively by Konica Minolta.

Specific details on the new AccurioPress series include duplex banner printing up to 900mm, simplex banner length capability of 1300mm. It has envelope and embossed media printability gives customers the opportunity to print new types of work, such as four-panel gatefold brochures and book covers for finishing offline. New technology used in the print engine dramatically improves image quality on textured paper stocks.

Paired with Konica Minolta’s enhanced IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Care Unit, the new press automatically and continuously measures and corrects colour so the first print in a run matches the last. Two-dimensional registration correction has also been improved through the higher output resolution.

The automatic media detection sensor comes standard on these models, detecting the stock and assigning the appropriate tray, eliminating time consuming paper settings and operator error. These attributes result in streamlined operator time, reduced print waste and increased productivity.

New accessories for the units include the TU-510 Versatile Trimmer Unit, an inline, four-edge trimmer, creaser and perforator that allows full bleed finishing support for banners, booklets, direct mail and a dedicated business card cutting option.

Additionally, the LS-507 Large Stacker supports higher speed, permits banner bypass and offers operators the advantage of offloading while the machine is still running, another new benefit added to Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress expanded line.

Colour management and job management utilities are available with the Konica Minolta’s proprietary controller. Third party controller options include the latest Fiery and Creo models.

Release date in Australia and New Zealand is not yet known.