Page 34 - Print 21 Magazine Sep-Oct 2020

Inkjet Sheetfed
Konica Minolta releases
enhanced B2 UV inkjet
Konica Minolta is releasing an enhanced version of its
B2 digital inkjet sheetfed press, the new AccurioJet KM-1e, designed to give printers greater productivity and versatility.
With the AccurioJet KM-1e the key specifications remain the same as the previous press – 3000 sheets an hour single sided, 1500sph in auto duplex mode, with 1200x1200dpi – and the enhancements come in its ability to handle a wider range of stock, higher uptime, decreased service requirements, and universal connectivity, meaning, says
Konica Minolta, it can link to most workflows on the market, and can now connect direct to third party vendors for finishing.
Like its predecessor the KM-1, the new press is aimed at commercial printers who want the benefits of digital with the quality of offset,
and the flexibility of stocks, coated and uncoated. Its UV inks mean instant drying. Its LED-UV system means long life, consistency and less energy than standard UV. The KM-1e has the Fogra53 profile, the robust standard, with the Konica KM-1 the first in the world to do so.
Among the enhancements are new high density inkjet printheads which
Below:
Enhanced: Konica Minlta AccurioJet KM1e
deliver the high resolution output
at 1200 dpi – with 600 nozzles per inch. Both the printheads and ink are manufactured by Konica Minolta. There are new media sensors which help support a wider range of substrates, and there is an auto tape inserter for slip-sheet applications. The KM-1e can print on a range of media including plastic, films, PET, polypropylene, canvas, coloured papers, embossed papers, synthetic papers, and metallics. The KM-1e offers the largest sheet size in its class with oversized B2 at 585x750 mm, and handles the same stock thicknesses as the original KM-1, 0.06-0.6mm. There is no pre-coating required for most papers.
Tatjana Ferguson, Industrial Print and Wide Format product manager at Konica Minolta says, “The key benefits that the KM-1e delivers include expanded media capability, high productivity, reliability and consistency, high image quality
and enhancements to operability
and workflow. All of this combined enables our customers to expand their business capability and most importantly increase profitability.” 21
Revolution into small run luxury stocks with KM-1
Revolution by name, revolution by nature – the Ballarat printer which bought its AccurioJet KM-1 two years ago has never been afraid to pioneer new pathways in print. Owner Leon Wilson says, “It was a sizeable investment for us, and with that came a risk, as back then the technology was brand new. However, installing the KM-1 has been a great decision for us, it was the best thing we could have done, we have absolutely no regrets.
“Being able to print a B2 sheet on all kinds of substrates, on demand, and with quality at
least as good as offset has been, well, revolutionary. The uptime
is remarkable, and its ability to smash out great quality print hour after hour has been great for us.”
When Revolution put in
the KM-1 it was printing both offset and digital, with its
toner presses. Now the KM-1
is the centre of the company’s production, and taking it into new areas. Wilson says, “We looked at opportunities with the KM-1, and saw that short-run luxury printing was an area it was well suited to. We bought
an MGI 3DS + iFoil digital embellishing machine, and with that and the KM-1 we are carving out quite a niche in the market.”
Revolution has established
a website – revocreative.com. au – to reach the creative / trade market with an indication of what it can accomplish,
and has a luxury stock box to give clients, which has spot foils, spot varnish, special laminates and over 20 luxury uncoated stocks to choose for printing. Wilson says, “We are changing perceptions. With the AccurioJet KM-1 we can print onto these beautiful uncoated stocks you would never imagine trying to print and sell from
a digital device, and quality
is better then what you would expect from being printed offset, which says luxury. But we can do it on-demand and
in short runs, this is proving appealing to our ever-growing trade and creative market.”
34 Print21 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020