Konica Minolta has reported a number of milestone sales and installations off the back of last week’s Labelexpo Europe 2019.
This included its 450th installation and sales of the new AccurioLabel 230, which was launched at Labelexpo Europe 2019. At total of 11 sales were concluded at the event from the end of September, eight for label presses and three MGI JETvarnish 3D Web finishing and embellishment systems.
Germany’s Graphic Druck signed on for an AccurioLabel 230 to help it satisfy demand for shorter runs and quick turnaround times. It has traditionally printed using offset and inkjet technology. Fellow Germany-based printers Maschinenbau Sobkowiak and MultiPrint invested in the AccurioLabel 230, opening up new business opportunities.
In France, Etiquettes Pierre Foucher also signed on for an AccurioLAbel 230, as did commercial offset printer Imprimerie Coste & Fils in addition to a GM DC330Mini finishing system.
Three label presses were also into the UK, including one each for Cotswold Labels, Labels UK and Label Tec.
For the MGI JETvarnish 3D Web, Italy’s Rotocel and Armenia-based Best Box invested in the finishing system, as did Turkish label printer Setag. It is the first company in Turkey to invest in the digital roll-to-roll embellishment finishing system that will work with existing digital and rotary machines.
Konica Minolta also noted that, ‘quality leads more than doubled’ compared to the last European show in Brussels, Belgium, two years ago. Moreover, the first deliveries of its digital toner-based technology were only made in early 2016.
Edoardo Cotichini, team manager, industrial printing at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, said, ‘It’s been an extremely rewarding journey since we shipped our first machine in 2016. We have grown to become number two in the market, according to InfoSource figures, and our accelerated growth shows no sign of slowing.
‘These latest sales are yet again prime examples of how companies are increasingly turning to our world-class technology for label printing.
‘There is a seismic change in the industry towards shorter runs and just-in-time production where label printers and converters need the highest quality printing, which is provided on our AccurioLabel 230 digital label press. Our dedicated market approach is working. We are here for the journey. It’s not the start any more and we are on an upward growth path.’
Mr Cotichini continued, ‘Several commentators at the show mentioned that we have really hit a sweet spot with our technology and offering to the market. But it’s no longer just about quality, that’s a given. We approach things relation-oriented and co-create with our customers, as already the development of our AccurioPress technology showed where we listened closely to our customers and improved the machine according to their feedback. We are rethinking together with our customers what is possible in label printing.’
