In the year of the celebration for 150 years of history, the consecration at Labelexpo 2023 could not be missed where Konica Minolta was one of the protagonists of this great event, presenting to the market all its end-to-end digital printing and finishing solutions. We deepen into the launch of the new AccurioLabel 400 in the video-interview shot at the fair with Antonio Maiorano.
To celebrate beauty, that is printing and finishing of labels and packaging, Konica Minolta has chosen to present itself with a high-impact, open and welcoming stand, divided into thematic areas, each of which focused on technologies for the creation of different applications. The company continues to grow in the label and packaging markets with innovations that aim to help printers and converters manage digital transformation. We remind you that Konica Minolta entered the label market only 7 years ago, and the steps taken in these years have been huge, from a technological and print quality point of view, so much so that it was named brand leader in 2021-2022 in field of digital label printing systems in Europe with a market share of 27% (Infosource).
“Digital label production now has become a mainstream technology, consequently Labelexpo presented a perfect opportunity for printers and brands to visit our stand and see for themselves how their ambitions, creativity and vision can be ignited through the infinite printing possibilities for labels and packaging that our technologies offer. Customers are looking for efficiency, using leaner and more optimized processes that allow them to improve their profits. By working together, we build long-term strategic partnerships with customized approaches that lead to sustainable scalability, a high degree of automation and end-to-end management. We develop a multi-segment approach, from pre-press to post-press, which also includes ennobling and finishing, as well as software and services”, commented Sacha-Vittorio Paolucci, Head of Industrial Printing, Business Development at Konica Minolta Europe.
Promoting digital culture with a range of complete solutions for different sectors
For Konica Minolta, attention to the printing market and the entire supply chain combines with cutting-edge technological solutions capable of offering the market, in the various sectors of expertise and for the various applications, products and solutions that can contribute to profitable growth of companies. Labelexpo, which this year has also expanded its offering to the world of packaging, was the perfect showcase to show operators from all over the world its potential with a range of complete solutions starting from pre-press, label and commercial printing, finishing, corrugated cardboard and lastly the textile sector.
“Although we are the youngest manufacturer of industrial printing machines to have entered these markets, we have presented several innovations, the latest of which is the new AccurioLabel 400, the 4th generation of machines”, said Toshitaka Uemura, Global Director of Strategy and Business Development at Konica Minolta, arrived in Brussels for the occasion.
The last year was experienced intensely by the management of Konica Minolta as the launch of the new AccurioLabel 400 represented an important turning point in the strategies of the Japanese multinational in the label sector. We remember the preview to which we were present in mid-2022 in Madrid, then the launch in Italy last March in Konica Minolta Italia showroom where we had the opportunity to see the first labels printed with this technology in our territory.
Knowledge of the label market has grown over time also thanks to the experience acquired with technologies such as the AccurioLabel 190 first and the AccurioLabel 230, a more compact solution with an excellent quality/price ratio, which was presented at Labelexpo with in-line finishing and personalization with inkjet technology. A machine with which it is possible to think of opening up new markets and differentiating offer, making an investment within the reach of even small businesses.
Talking about labels today means broadening the discussion to finishing, and Konica Minolta knows this well, having an important partnership with MGI Digital Technology, thanks to which the company also offers the market solutions for finishing sheet-fed printed matter and labels.
Two solutions were present on Labelexpo stand, the first was the MGI JETvarnish 3D Web Compact, an ideal technology for label printers who wish to create beautiful prints for the much sought after “wow” effect. Thanks to this system it is possible to apply in a single step and with a uniquely digital process, UV varnish, hot stamping, flat or embossed, with fixed or variable data.
The second MGI machine was the Octopus Web, a brand new technology for digital cutting and finishing of self-adhesive labels, thanks to 4-axis heads equipped with cutting blades.
As for software solutions, Konica Minolta presented AccurioPro Flux Label Impose and Accurio Pro Dashboard which allow you to manage end-to-end systems making printing processes more streamlined and efficient.
Although Labelexpo is the trade fair for the label world, from this year the offer has also expanded to packaging and Konica Minolta has decided to also show the PKG-1300 Print-on-demand solution dedicated to the corrugated cardboard sector in operation, for all those printers, converters and brand owners looking for digital printing solutions in short runs, which thanks to a technology like this can help reduce time and costs.
“Labelexpo Europe is the ideal time and place for customers and potential customers who want to ignite the spark of creativity and increase their printing possibilities. It was certainly a long-awaited opportunity to meet – finally in person – to update, share ideas and discuss the latest innovations. Many visitors came to our stand and showed great interest in our latest generation of label printing technologies. The transition from analogue to digital is unstoppable and continues to accelerate; we continue to follow the trend and explore new boundaries and possibilities”, commented Antonio Maiorano, Sales Director Professional Printing at Konica Minolta Italia, with whom we went into detail about the new AccurioLabel 400 in the video interview.
