By DPS Staff
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. recently invited industry press and analysts to its Print Production Technology Showcase and Blueprint for the Future event on July 9, 2014. Attendees witnessed an update on the company’s production technology as well as the official launch of the bizhub PRESS C1100/C1085.
Hosted at the company’s Regional Customer Engagement Center in New York, NY, Konica Minolta discussed new strategies, opportunities, and products designed to change the shape of business for years to come.
Event speakers included Rick Taylor, president and COO, Konica Minolta; Sam Errigo, SVP, business intelligence services, Konica Minolta; Todd Croteau, president, All Covered; Kay Du Fernandez, VP, strategic business development, Konica Minolta; and Dino Pagliarello, director, product marketing, Konica Minolta.
New Products
The highlight of the agenda was the launch of the bizhub PRESS C1100 and bizhub PRESS C1085 color digital presses. Targeting commercial printers and in-plant print providers, the new presses boast 100 pages per minute (ppm) and 85 ppm, respectively. The biggest differentiator over the bizhub PRESS C8000 series is the fact that the presses maintain production speeds regardless of substrate type or weight.
Additionally, the bizhub PRESS C1100 and C1085 feature enhanced Simitri HDE toner, S.E.A.D. IV image processing to continuously maintain image stability over long press runs, air suction paper feeding for better registration and reliable paper handling, and hybrid decurling for consistently flat output.
In addition to the C1100/C1085 launch, the company announced FileAssist for Graphic Communications, a cloud-based document management solution specifically designed to help production print providers improve customer collaboration.
To emphasize the technological advancements offered by the C1100, several customers took the stage to answer questions about their experience with the new press. These customers— Cox Printers, Digital Dog Direct, mdt marketing, and Horizon Printing Solutions—obtained the latest solution as part of Konica Minolta’s Early Sales Placement Program.
Demonstrations
Press and analysts were invited to walk through the customer engagement center to see the new products—as well as several other recent products—in action.
Products demonstrated included the newly launched bizhub PRESS C1100 and FileAssist document management system; dual engine bizhub PRESS 2250P, which was released in late June; the ProJet 3500 Series Professional 3D printer and ProJet 660 Professional 3D printer from 3D systems, in which Konica Minolta recently announced a strategic distribution agreement; the bizhub PRES C1070 color digital press; and a brief presentation of EngageIT XMedia.
Next Generation
Konica Minolta continues to show its dedication to the graphic arts through open communication with its customers. With improved productivity, existing and prospective customers expect to meet the ever changing needs of print buyers. In addition to the latest announcements, Koncia Minolta promises even more excitement at the Graph Expo trade show this Fall. dps
Jul2014, DPS Magazine
