Tag Archive: Konica Minolta

  1. Konica Minolta Unveils AccurioLabel 400 Press

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    Ramsey, NJ, (May 31, 2022) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in industrial and commercial printing and packaging solutions, today announced a new label press, the AccurioLabel 400. As the company accelerates its presence in the label, packaging and embellishment markets, the new machine will target mid- to high-volume label converters, commercial printers, and large brand owners and provide affordable, top-quality digital label printing.

    The first technology preview of the AccurioLabel 400 was held yesterday at Konica Minolta’s European Labels and Packaging Exposition at its offices in Madrid, Spain. The press will be also showcased in the U.S. during Labelexpo Americas in September. The product will officially be available in spring of 2023.

    The AccurioLabel 400 is a net new product allowing customers to expand their businesses in the growing markets of digital label production and packaging. Recently, Konica Minolta celebrated its 1,000th installation shipment for the highly successful AccurioLabel digital toner label presses, less than seven years since entering the market.

    “We are excited to unveil the AccurioLabel 400 and look forward to continuing to bring label converters, commercial printers and brand owners the high quality, consistent results they have come to expect from Konica Minolta devices,” said Bill Troxil, President, Industrial Print and Production Print Business, Konica Minolta. “As indicated by our fast acceleration into the label market with the AccurioLabel 230, we expect the AccurioLabel 400 to provide another perfect opportunity to strengthen our client relationships by helping them grow their businesses.”

    Important new developments include the ability to expand applications with white toner, extended job opportunities with press runs up to 3000m, improved productivity with superfast print speeds of up to 130 feet per minute, and further running cost reductions thanks to even more durable parts life, as well as enhanced print quality. The AccurioLabel 400 is available in 4- and 5-color options.

    With resolution equivalent to 3600 x 2400 dpi, the Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 400 single-pass toner production press prints on substrate widths up to 13” or 10”. Multiple-touch panel monitors in three different areas of the label press enable intuitive operation and is easy to use for operators, eliminating the need for extensive user training. Tasks that were time-consuming on analog machines can be performed quickly and accurately in delivering stable printing quality.

    Konica Minolta’s Intelligent Quality Optimizer, the IQ-520 will increase usability and automation with the AccurioLabel 400, with label production benefiting from higher levels of control. The Intelligent Quality Optimizer enables real-time control of white toner opacity, color stability control, as well as automatic calibration, density adjustments and profile creation.

    “We are constantly rethinking print and helping customers to improve and grow by uncovering ways to intensify experiences for customers, all to secure a bright future for print,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta. “By adding the AccurioLabel 400 to our broad range of innovative print solutions, we are confident in our ability to grow market share by enabling digital transformation that also includes workflow, software and process automation and cloud solutions as part of the drive to the smart factory.”

  2. Konica Minolta Launches MarketPlace Universal Print App

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    Ramsey, NJ, (April 20, 2022) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced its free Universal Print App is now available in the Konica Minolta MarketPlace. The Universal Print solution frees IT admins from managing on-premise printing assets and print servers. Konica Minolta’s bizhub i-Series multi-function printers (MFP) support Universal Print as a Universal Print native printer. By integrating its MFPs and the Microsoft 365 environment, clients can reduce print-related costs and benefit from this seamless and productive printing experience.

    Konica Minolta first announced it would offer solutions to utilize Universal Print from Microsoft in 2020. Universal Print is a modern print solution organizations can use to manage their print infrastructure through cloud services from Microsoft. It runs entirely on Microsoft Azure, and when deployed with Universal Print–compatible printers, it does not require any on-premises infrastructure. It can be deployed with non-compatible printers by using Universal Print connector software. Universal Print is a Microsoft 365 subscription-based service.

    “The transition to remote work has increased businesses’ need for cloud-based print architecture, and Universal Print technology from Microsoft allows us to enhance our cloud printing services while also reducing costs and increasing productivity for our clients,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta. “We are pleased to now offer even easier access through the Konica Minolta MarketPlace App, ensuring all our Microsoft 365 users can take advantage of having a simple and secure printing environment.”

    Konica Minolta bizhub i-Series MFPs give IT admins more control over printer access rights by seamlessly and securely connecting to the Microsoft 365 environment. Everyday users who are authenticated and authorized by Azure Active Directory can access and execute print jobs from a Konica Minolta MFP that is shared on the Azure environment by registering their i-Series printer as a shared printer on the Azure portal and downloading the Konica Minolta MarketPlace Universal Print app to the MFP.

    To add more value to Universal Print, Konica Minolta’s multifunction printers provide hybrid print solutions and unified technology of on-premise and cloud printing. These include print management, secure printing and print-from-anywhere including home office to make remote work efficient. Combined with Universal Print, the solutions allow for a smooth digital transformation from on-premise to cloud that keeps pace with each client’s maturity level.

    Konica Minolta’s bizhub i-Series MFPs support direct printing through Universal Print and the new Universal Print App found in the Konica Minolta MarketPlace. Learn more about the bizhub i-Series online.

  3. Konica Minolta Launches AccurioPress 6272P

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    Ramsey, NJ, (April 19, 2022) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in industrial and commercial printing and packaging solutions, today announced the release of its AccurioPress 6272P press, designed to help customers rethink monochrome print possibilities. Commercial printers, print-for-pay services and central in-house printing operations are all major target markets for the fully configured digital production press, which replaces the bizhub PRESS 2250P.

    Based on the highly successful single-engine AccurioPress 6136P, this flagship monochrome digital press utilizes dual-engine technology that enables printing more than 16,000 images per hour (ipm). Customers benefit from the AccurioPress 6272P’s best-in-class durability, reliability, productivity, efficiency and automation while optimizing their investment through a low total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to similar speed devices.

    The AccurioPress 6272P prints 272 ipm duplex to meet tight print deadlines and supports a wide range of media, including coated and uncoated stock in weights from 40 gsm up to 350 gsm and ranging from 3.74” x 5.24” to 12.76” x 19.02”. With a maximum input capacity of 18,000 sheets and a maximum output capacity of up to 18,600 sheets with three high-capacity stackers, the press delivers long, uninterrupted runs.

    The tandem-engine combination, achieved through the tandem relay unit (TD-502), provides twice the speed and double the productivity in one integrated production process that offers superior image quality and a wide range of automated features. The press uses LED print heads at 1,200 x 1,200 dpi with technology to ensure smaller fonts are crisp and halftones are smooth, producing stunning monochrome text and images.

    As with the AccurioPress 6136P series, the 6272P uses CIE color space when converting color documents to black and white, creating richer gradations than conventional conversion. Independent front-to-back alignment and a distortion-adjustment function ensure accurate duplex registration for book blocks, technical documents and more. The newly developed pass-through mode secures production in the rare case of a machine error, and the standard paper-cooling system enables all output to be processed immediately offline after printing.

    Enhanced Efficiency by Automation

    For printing companies looking to integrate their printing, and organizations that use digital printing to produce their own in-house publications and promotional materials, AccurioPro, Konica Minolta’s suite of digital solutions for professional printing, boosts speed and efficiency, expands capabilities and services and reduces the need for operational manpower. Together, these features streamline customers’ print jobs and help to boost their profitability.

    A stacking unit and a wide variety of finishing options with an interface to third-parties such as Plockmatic and GBC, enhance the 6272P’s speed and productivity for high-demand printing environments to create print products that stand out and create added value. The press is also compatible with the IQ-501 for managing front-to-back registration and gradation. Additionally with the TD-502, customers can upgrade their existing AccurioPress 6136P and double its productivity to that of the AccurioPress 6272P.

    “This launch represents another great example of how Konica Minolta supports its clients’ digital transformation through advanced automation, fewer human touchpoints and higher productivity with tangible effects that lead to increased, high-quality output with less waste,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta. “Combining features such as the AccurioPro Print Manager, TD-502 tandem relay unit and IQ-501 for registration ensure this system meets customer demands in high-volume printing environments.”

  4. Konica Minolta Launches IP Pro Portal

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    Ramsey, NJ, (August 12, 2021) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in industrial and commercial printing and packaging solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of a new portal for its industrial print (IP) customers. The IP Pro Portal is designed to help its IP customers access pertinent information and discover new ideas for marketing, growth applications and opportunities to increase profits.

    Intended to provide an environment for business transformation and build a community of profitable businesses through education, networking and shared experience, the portal includes:

    • A forum where customers can ask questions and get answers through a network of other Konica Minolta IP users
    • A marketing repository where customers can get everything from sample files to marketing videos and tools, presentations to new growth applications and proven case studies
    • Technical resources to provide operators with help to be the most efficient and productive running and servicing their presses
    • A cloud-based ink estimating tool for Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1e LED UV inkjet press and AccurioLabel 230 toner-based production label press

    Content on the IP Pro Portal will be updated on a regular basis to give Konica Minolta’s IP customers the most up-to-date information and ideas to help them increase their profitability.

    “This new IP Pro Portal is another example of our commitment to partnership with our customers, with the most up-to-date resources for success through our entire line of industrial print products, said Bill Troxil, Senior Vice President, Industrial and Production Print, Konica Minolta. “We are committed to helping our customers grow, be more profitable, and more productive.”

    Konica Minolta’s IP customers will receive enrollment information via email to access the portal.

  5. Konica Minolta MFPs Exceed Industry Standards for Cybersecurity Compliance

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    Ramsey, NJ, (July 27, 2021) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced results from penetration testing on its bizhub i-Series multifunction printers, conducted to ensure the product line is compliant with the highest data privacy and endpoint security standards. The bizhub i-Series features multiple next-generation technologies, including solid-state storage, a new code base, firmware and integrated cloud services. No vulnerabilities were found during recent tests performed on the devices by NTT DATA, an internationally respected IT services provider, and the Security division of NTT Ltd.

    Network-connected devices offer end users tremendous opportunities for collaboration and ease of use. Unfortunately, those same endpoint devices are attractive targets for hackers. By exploiting a security vulnerability in a connected device, a skilled hacker can expose an entire network to data theft, business disruption and financial turmoil.

    Konica Minolta puts their products through rigorous internal cybersecurity tests to protect their systems and ensure they meet PCI, HIPAA, FERPA and GDPR compliance requirements. But to further assure customers that the printers exceed industry standards for cybersecurity compliance, Konica Minolta invested in an extra layer of threat protection — penetration tests provided by NTT DATA and the Security division of NTT Ltd.

    Konica Minolta provided a line of its multifunction printers and their source code to NTT DATA for penetration testing. After spending approximately 80 hours trying to hack into the devices, NTT DATA engineers did not find any major security vulnerabilities. These results fortify Konica Minolta’s reputation for offering secure products and helps drive the product line’s success.

    “More and more frequently, our clients are asking us for penetration tests of our products, but I don’t know of a competitor that has contracted a Fortune 500 company with the penetration testing capabilities that NTT DATA has,” said Chris Bilello, Vice President, Solutions and Vertical Market Business Development, Konica Minolta. “In an environment where customers are increasingly and rightfully concerned with security, NTT DATA’s extra testing can provide an added sense of confidence.”

    Visit Konica Minolta online to read the full report or watch a short video about its efforts to protect its systems from vulnerabilities.

  6. Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1e Achieves Deinking Certification for Uncoated Paper

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    Ramsey, NJ, (July 15, 2021) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in world-class printing technology, is pleased to announce its AccurioJet KM-1e LED UV Inkjet Press has been accredited by INGEDE, the International Association of the Deinking Industry, for the deinking of uncoated paper printed on the system, enabling such papers to go into the recycling process.

    Deinking is the removal process of printing ink from recovered paper during recycling. Key process steps for deinking are the detachment of ink film from the paper, ink fragmentation into a suitable size range and removal from the pulp slurry.

    “This certification gives our customers confidence they can run the widest range of substrates in the industry, while still being good stewards of the environment,” said Bill Troxil, Senior Vice President, Industrial & Production Print, Konica Minolta Business Solutions. “Our customers count on us to help them provide value to their customers and to the environment. Now, in addition to our exclusive AccurioJet KM-1e UV ink formulation with zero VOC’s, we add complete deinkability to the message.”

    Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1e LED UV Inkjet Press, which has been referred to as the Swiss Army Knife of printing because it has so many uses, already has the INGEDE deinking certification for coated papers, which includes recycled qualities. After rigorous testing and evaluation of uncoated papers by INGEDE, in which the KM-1e press achieved an extremely high rating in the “Assessment of Print Product Recyclability – Deinkability Test” (INGEDE Method 11), the accreditation has been extended.

    The formal accreditation is another positive boost for customers, according to Hidetoshi Omo, Head of Competence KM-1 at Konica Business Solutions Europe. Omo stated, “We are extremely proud to have received the accreditation from INGEDE for the Konica Minolta AccurioJet KM-1e, which rewards a great deal of hard work and inspiration from our development teams, and underpins our commitment to sustainability. The AccurioJet KM-1e is a press that enables almost endless possibilities for printing on a vast range of different substrates, and with so few digital presses having achieved this deinking standard, the press stands out even more from the competition now, giving our customers greater possibilities to grow their businesses in a sustainable way.”

    To learn more about the AccurioJet KM-1e LED UV Inkjet Press, please visit Konica Minolta online.

  7. Konica Minolta Launches AccurioPress C7100 series

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    Ramsey, NJ, (July 6, 2021) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in world-class printing technology, is pleased to introduce the AccurioPress C7100 series, digital color presses packed with innovative technologies to create more profitable business opportunities. From intelligent automation and enhanced finishing to flawless quality, advanced capabilities and exceptional durability, customers have the power to grow their businesses through a press that works smarter.

    Succeeding the highly successful AccurioPress C6100 Series, the new AccurioPress C7100 model runs at 100 pages per minute (ppm) with the AccurioPress C7090 at 90ppm. With a focus on optimizing performance, offering new and advanced print products, and growing the entire business, the AccurioPress C7100 series serves more customers and completes more jobs with innovative technologies that power success.

    “Key to the development of the AccurioPress C7100 and AccurioPress C7090 was building a press that works smarter, not harder, with new technologies geared to provide stability, reliability and productivity to make businesses more profitable,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning. “These new models bring the agility that print service providers have come to expect from Konica Minolta, and serve our mission to support our clients’ transformation with opportunities for new revenue sources.”

    Flawless Quality

    Konica Minolta’s latest Simitri V toner is eco-friendly and formulated for performance. Fast melting, energy efficient and low maintenance, it reproduces superb quality on a wider range of media up to 400 g/m2. Combined with an output resolution of 3,600 dpi equivalent x 2,400 dpi, outstanding results are achieved from even the longest print runs.

    Advanced Capabilities

    With auto-duplex banners up to 900mm and the flexibility to handle embossed and textured media, handling of the machines is so simple that the most complex projects can be run by a single operator.

    Intelligent Automation

    By instantly detecting the precise stock being used, the optional Intelligent Media Sensor IM-101 significantly reduces production time. At the same time, the optional IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Care Unit ensures perfectly consistent color quality and front-to-back registration on every print in real time. With no recalibrations or inspections mid-run, users benefit from printing image data now directly comparable with scanning data from IQ-501 with real time variable data print (VDP) inspection. It can be inspected for changes in text and images with real time color and registration adjustment.

    Enhanced Finishing

    As with the entire AccurioPress portfolio, a wide range of finishing and other functions are offered, in addition to booklet-making, stapling, perfect binding and wire binding. Konica Minolta’s TU-510, the world’s first inline cutting finisher, successfully introduced with the AccurioPress C14000 high-volume production printer, is available for the AccurioPress C7100 Series. The TU-510 is a four-edge trimmer and creaser that allows full-bleed finishing support for long sheets, booklets, direct mail and dedicated business card cutting options.

    Exceptional Durability

    Reliability drives profitability. Among the new technologies built into the engine are a more durable lubricated drum, double corona wires with automatic cleaning, an optimized paper transport solution and a double swing registration system for improved paper compatibility and feeding accuracy.

    The AccurioPress C7100 Series is designed to support a highly responsive print room environment where customers rethink agility and offers a choice of different controller front ends from EFI, CREO and Konica Minolta’s own offering to perfectly match customer requirements.

    Helping customers to expand and streamline businesses

    These new models support Konica Minolta’s mission to assist with the transformation of its clients’ companies by sector and industry, predicting potential challenges and creating solutions together. The devices make a powerful impression, with many simply efficient capabilities, ultimately helping customers to expand and streamline their business.

    To learn more about the AccurioPress C7100, please visit Konica Minolta online.

  8. Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1e Press Wins BLI 2021-2022 PaceSetter Award from Keypoint Intelligence

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    Ramsey, NJ (June 9, 2021) – Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is proud to announce it has received a Buyers Lab (BLI) 2021-2022 PaceSetter in Production Print Applications: Output Variety from Keypoint Intelligence, the world’s leading and independent evaluator of document imaging hardware, software and services. Based on research conducted in the North American market, these accolades celebrate those OEMs that best support their customers on reducing costs and/or increasing business based on different printing applications. Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1e LED UV Inkjet Press was specifically recognized for its ability to print on a wide variety of substrates. Konica Minolta Provides Output Variety Galore Being able to print in a larger variety of substrates increases the number of applications that a print service provider (PSP) can produce and sell. And according to feedback from Keypoint Intelligence, the Konica Minolta AccurioJet KM-1e with UV inks enables users to print on an array of media that other cut-sheet technologies cannot, while greeting cards, gift cards, hotel room keys, and even ID badges can be printed on texture film or PVC. Other applications could be printed on synthetics, PET adhesive, polypropylene, and polyethylene. “Art applications printed on canvas sizes up to 23″x29.5″ can be output on the KM-1e,” said German Sacristan, Director of On Demand Printing at Keypoint Intelligence. “Additionally, the KM-1e has an offline laser-cutting system specifically built for the B2+ sheet size that is capable of producing different types of sleek finishes. Also important is that Konica Minolta supports its customers’ success with business development and a customized professional service program.” “The AccurioJet KM-1e is a key part of our strategy to enable our strategic customers to grow their businesses and maximize their workflow efficiency leading to higher and sustainable long-term profitability,” said Bill Troxil, Senior Vice President, Industrial and Inkjet Printing, Konica Minolta. “This recognition from Keypoint Intelligence affirms our leadership position in the North American marketplace with our LED UV inkjet technology and finishing solutions, and we are proud to receive this honor.” Launched in June, 2020, and inheriting excellence from the AccurioJet KM-1, the AccurioJet KM-1e embodies infinite business expansion possibilities, from current business fields to more profitable businesses. The device amplified benefits of the LED UV inkjet technology to maximize quality and printing capability on various types of media such as plastics, backlit signage, transparent film, foiled paper, metallic media, canvas and synthetic substrates. The AccurioJet KM-1e continues to help customers pursue high value-added products where high-quality production, extensive media compatibility and personalization are required. Keypoint Intelligence’s Pacesetter Awards in Production Print Applications are aimed at finding the digital print manufacturing vendors that best support their customers in terms of driving applications to success. The companies recognized help buyers communicate more effectively via print, which ultimately contributes to the growth of digital printing. Learn more online about Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1e LED UV Inkjet press.

  9. Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C14000 Wins BLI 2021 PRO Award from Keypoint Intelligence

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    Ramsey, NJ (May 10, 2021) – Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is proud to announce it has received a Buyers Lab (BLI) 2021 PRO Award from Keypoint Intelligence, the world’s leading and independent evaluator of document imaging hardware, software and services. Granted annually, these awards acknowledge the products that gave the best performances in production field testing over the previous year. Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C14000 with EFI Fiery IC-319 Controller took top honors in the Outstanding High-Volume CMYK Production Device High-Volume Category and was identified as a trailblazer in the digital production marketplace.

    “Konica Minolta’s innovative IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Optimizer has impressed us since its launch, allowing for quick, best practice color setup and media-registration profiling, with inline checking and adjustment tolerances controllable by the operator,” said David Sweetnam, Director of EMEA/Asia Research & Lab Services at Keypoint Intelligence. “This technology helped the device deliver an outstanding performance over our production-length tests where, over 67,000 clicks, the device never drifted above DeltaE00 3.4, nor did it exhibit an image-registration shift of more than 0.3 mm.”

    Another key technology innovation noted by Keypoint Intelligence that separates the Konica Minolta AccurioPress C14000 from its peers is the new TU-510 Versatile Trimmer Unit. This inline, four-edge trimmer and creaser allows full-bleed finishing support for banners, booklets, direct mail and a dedicated business card cutting option.

    “We are extremely pleased to have made such a successful entry into the high-volume toner printing segment with the C14000 Series, affirmed by this honor from Keypoint Intelligence,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta. “The IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Optimizer is our differentiator in the market and allows us to take color consistency and registration accuracy to the next level for our customers. We are tremendously proud to be recognized for this technology.”

    The C14000 Series has won numerous awards since its launch in late 2019, including the “ Good Design Award 2020” from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, the “Red Dot Award: Product Design 2021,” and most recently the iF DESIGN AWARD 2021, from the Hannover-based iF International Forum Design GmbH, the world’s oldest independent design forum. In addition, earlier this year both the AccurioPress C14000 and C12000 achieved two Idealliance® certifications – the Digital Electrophotographic Press Certification and ISO/PAS 15339 System Certification.

  10. Konica Minolta Receives BLI PaceSetter Award from Keypoint Intelligence for the Legal Vertical

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    Ramsey, NJ (March 18, 2021) – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is proud to announce it has received a prestigious Buyers Lab (BLI) 2021-2022 PaceSetter Award in Legal Market: Visionary Leadership. Based on research conducted in the North American market, this accolade recognizes the document imaging solution provider that stood out in Keypoint Intelligence’s proprietary study that drilled into key categories including company vision, hardware and software portfolios suitable for the legal market, and professional and IT services. This is the second time Konica Minolta has been honored for its legal solutions, having received the first-ever PaceSetter Award granted in this vertical in 2018.

    The study drilled into approximately 40 points of differentiation spread across key categories including company vision, hardware and software portfolios, and professional and IT services.

    In particular, Konica Minolta rose to the top thanks to its wide range of IT offerings. The company’s All Covered IT services division maintains a legal-specific support practice, The Lawyer’s Help Desk™, with staff specifically trained in leading legal software. Konica Minolta also offers on-premises and cloud-accessible software tailored to legal professionals in areas like document management, billing, financial management, practice management, and e-discovery. Just as importantly, thoughtfully curated and communicated content in its legal portal site enables direct and partner sales personnel to recognize and confidently address the needs of legal customers. These invaluable resources include the sharing of market trends and strategies in legal podcasts and playbooks, a legal certification program for sales reps, and much more.

    “Following an unprecedented year of challenges, particularly for the legal industry, whose business model is not traditionally open to remote working, we are particular honored to be recognized for our efforts to help our clients pivot to an alternative way of practicing law,” said Zina Motley-Weaver, National Practice Manager, Legal and Finance, Konica Minolta. “At Konica Minolta, we believe strongly in being a consultative partner, especially during difficult times, and are at the ready to provide new value in the face of adversity. From those firms who were already strategically partnered with us to support remote work, to those we helped to quickly transition at the start of the pandemic, we are proud to be an ally to this industry.”

    “Konica Minolta has demonstrated impressive foresight with not only an innovative portfolio of products and services for legal market customers but a solid foundation of sales enablement for internal and partner sales teams, too,” said Jamie Bsales, Keypoint Intelligence’s Director of Smart Workplace & Security Analysis. “This invaluable content includes thoughtfully curated and communicated content in its legal portal site, the sharing of market trends and strategies in legal podcasts and playbooks, and a certification program for sales reps that ensures they can confidently address the needs of customers.”

    Read Keypoint Intelligence’s announcement about its BLI 2021-2022 PaceSetter Award in Legal online.

  11. Konica Minolta Expands bizhub® i-Series Line with New A4 Monochrome Devices

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    Ramsey, NJ, (February 10, 2021) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in world-class printing technology, is excited to announce the latest addition to its new generation of the bizhub A4 series, the bizhub 4750i and the 4050i monochrome MFPs and the bizhub 4700i monochrome single function printer (SFP), completing its A4 line.

    The bizhub 4750i and 4050i replace the bizhub 4752 and 4052 and the bizhub 4700i replaces the 4702P. The 4750i has a speed of up to 50 ppm, 4050i is up to 42 ppm, and the 4700i SFP is up to 50 ppm, all faster than their color printer counterparts. All models offer reduced running costs over their predecessors, and the bizhub 4750i and 4050i have color scanning capabilities.

    “Our updated A4 lineup features nearly identical user interface and software compatibility, consistent with our award-winning A3 products, with everything from the engines to the toner made by Konica Minolta. We are also pleased to be able to offer our clients a more affordable price and smaller footprint with the same functionality they expect from all our MFPs,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta. “With the addition of these new monochrome models, our A4 product line is now complete, providing the ease of use we have become known for in the industry with the choice of color or black and white.”

    The ease and simplicity of the upgraded bizhub A4 MFPs feature a modernized user interface that is intuitive and efficient, offering the user clear and short steps for completing tasks. The models are equipped with standard 5 GB memory, a 256 GB solid state drive (SSD), PS, PCL & XPS Controller, Wireless Connectivity and Web Browser, Super G3 Fax (standard on the 4750i and optional on the 4050i), Standard Gigabit Ethernet, Duplex Unit, 80-sheet Dual Scan Document Feeder, Standard USB 2.0 (supports local printing), Toner (Yield: 20K), Imaging Unit and many other features.

    The 4700i SFP offers 4 GB standard memory, includes PS, PCL & XPS controller, an Automatic Duplex Unit, 500-sheet Paper Cassette, Fast Ethernet, High-speed USB 2.0 Host, 20K Toner Cartridge, and a 200K Imaging Unit. All machines ship with generous, full-size 20K toner cartridges rather than “starter” cartridges. Security for the bizhub A4 series remains a high priority, with all of the standard features included to secure customers’ data, plus the optional Bitdefender virus scan on the MFP devices to ensure customers’ data is always protected.

    Customers looking for a mixed fleet of A4 and A3 printers will experience the same award-winning user interface, functionality and platform offered by the entire bizhub i-Series line. Konica Minolta’s line of A3 printers recently received Keypoint Intelligence’s BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year Award and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Award.

    The web browser is standard and the Konica Minolta MarketPlace is enabled and ready to use on the bizhub 4750i and 4050i. The Konica Minolta MarketPlace is a great source for cutting-edge technology, with new apps being developed to make the i-Series MFPs even more powerful in all the right categories. Scanning, printing, social networking, security, document management and cloud-based apps are all easy to access and designed to help increase productivity.

    In addition, the i-Series MFPs support Konica Minolta’s new free Personalize app and Personalize with Follow-You Persona subscriptions, which offer users the ability to customize the display of their MFPs according to their individual preferences upon authenticating to the device. Functions and features as well as their language of choice can be matched to their own individual working behavior and routines, decreasing the time employees spend in front of their devices and increasing efficiency and operational cost savings.

    Features include:

    • 5 GB Memory pre-installed (4750i/4050i); 4 GB Memory pre-installed (4700i)
    • 256 GB self-encrypting, high performance solid state drive, which is faster and more secure than conventional hard disk technology (4750i/4050i)
    • “Floating” Panel with new UI that requires fewer clicks to complete common tasks; “Classic” UI can also be used
    • Secure network integration, data encryption and advanced user authentication
    • Mobile Connectivity to print anytime from anywhere
    • Reduced energy consumption and costs
    • Short warm-up time
    • MarketPlace pre-installed, with three popular free apps included (4750i/4050i)
    • Personalize with Follow-You Persona (optional on 4750i/4050i)
    • Bitdefender Anti-Virus Scan (MFP option)

    Konica Minolta has received many more industry accolades for its bizhub i-Series, including Keypoint Intelligence’s Buyers Lab (BLI) PaceSetter award 2020-2021 in Ease of Use: Enterprise Devices, the international Red Dot and Good Design awards for product design, ASTOR Homeland Security Awards and Better Buys Editor’s Choice awards.

    The bizhub i-Series monochrome devices offer versatile configurations to meet customer requirements in terms of workflow, applications and budget. Learn more online about the bizhub 4750i, 4050i and 4700i.

  12. Konica Minolta Wins 12 BLI Awards from Keypoint Intelligence for its bizhub i-Series, Including ‘A3 Line of the Year’

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    Ramsey, NJ (January 13, 2021) – Konica Minolta is proud to announce it has received 12 Buyers Lab (BLI) Awards from Keypoint Intelligence, the world’s leading and independent evaluator of document imaging hardware, software and services. This is an acknowledgment of the capabilities of Konica Minolta’s multi-functional peripheral devices (MFPs) with the leading industry awards. All devices are from Konica Minolta’s new bizhub i-Series, underlining the successful relaunch of the company’s MFP range. In addition to 10 BLI 2021 Pick Awards for its bizhub A3 MFPs, Konica Minolta secured the BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year Award. Based on long-term comprehensive testing, Konica Minolta was further acknowledged with the BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Award.

    Companies demand consistent quality, reliability and the highest levels of usability from their office printers – and it is in exactly these areas that Konica Minolta’s A3 bizhub i-Series range impressed the testers from Keypoint Intelligence. Twelve Konica Minolta bizhub A3 MPFs received the Highly Recommended overall rating for outstanding performance in Keypoint Intelligence lab testing. Ten of those models earned Pick Awards in their respective segments: bizhub C250i, C300i, C450i, C550i, C650i, 300i, 360i, 450i, 550i and 750i. This earned Konica Minolta additionally the ‘BLI 2021 A3 Line of the Year’ award.

    “Thank you to Keypoint Intelligence for this honor. We are tremendously proud to be recognized for the best A3 product line in the market,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc. “As an organization that has expanded into many different areas, we have remained true to this industry and driving our core business by continuing to incorporate advanced technology and functionality to improve customer experience. Winning BLI’s 2021 A3 Line of the Year Award is a testament to our unwavering dedication.”

    This underlying philosophy in product design is the basis for the high usability of the devices and offers a high degree of end-to-end ease of use. For example: The large control panels provide easy access to all basic settings and touch navigation for a pleasant and effective user experience. The panel can be fully customized with all tools and apps a specific user most frequently needs. Further, the preinstalled MarketPlace on all devices gives access to a wide range of cloud offerings.

    The BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand further shows that Konica Minolta’s MFPs are able to deliver repeatable high-quality printing results: For this award, BLI analyzed color consistency for well over 20 years and the last five years of results have been included in this evaluation. Technicians print IT8 color charts at specific test points throughout a device’s reliability test, which are then measured using Xrite i1Profiler software together with the i1Pro2 spectrophotometer/iO table combination.

  13. Konica Minolta Receives Four BLI Awards from Keypoint Intelligence

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    Ramsey, NJ (December 22, 2020) – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is proud to announce it has received four prestigious Buyers Lab Awards from Keypoint Intelligence, the world’s leading independent evaluator for document imaging software, hardware and services.

    “As we continue our focus on using innovation and technology to bring new solutions to market to support our clients’ businesses, accolades such as these are an important part of the process,” said Sam Errigo, Executive Vice President, Sales and Business Development, Konica Minolta. “Keypoint Intelligence is a valuable partner on whom we rely to help evaluate our solutions, provide insights on where we stand in the market and assure we are investing in the right areas. We are extremely proud of these recognitions.”

    Recent awards bestowed on Konica Minolta include:

    BLI PaceSetter Award in Healthcare

    Konica Minolta received a BLI PaceSetter 2021-2022 in Healthcare: Visionary Leader from Keypoint Intelligence. Based on research conducted in the North American market, the award recognized document imaging OEMs that have proven they offer the hardware and software portfolios, professional services, support, and thought leadership to best serve healthcare customers. Konica Minolta was praised for going well beyond document imaging devices and software to provide critical workflow solutions for hospitals and group practices across the country. Through its All Covered IT services division, the company aids with HIPAA/HITECH compliance, electronic health records systems implementation and support, healthcare application development, and more, while its Return to Work program is designed to help curb the spread of COVID-19 as employees get back to the office.

    BLI 2021 Pick and Outstanding Achievement Awards

    Konica Minolta received two BLI 2021 Pick and Outstanding Achievement Awards in the Document Imaging Software category. These coveted honors recognize the most impressive solutions evaluated by Keypoint Intelligence during the previous 12-month test cycle.

    • Outstanding Cost Accounting & Recovery Solution: Konica Minolta Dispatcher Paragon
      • Konica Minolta Dispatcher Paragon provides businesses with all the tools they need to track, control, visualize, reduce, and recuperate print, scan, copy and fax costs across their entire fleet – even with mixed fleets. Print rules, budgets and quotas help businesses curb spending, while a customizable pricing structures and built-in payment system makes it easy to charge for print/scan/copy/fax usage.
    • Outstanding Achievement in Innovation: Return to Work
      • Konica Minolta’s Return to Work program is innovation defined. The solution comes with everything businesses need to return to and maintain a safe work environment for all employees. The solution prevents the spread of disease by conducting web-based employee health assessments and using thermal cameras to take an employee’s temperature. The solution also supports contract tracing and incident management tools.

    BLI 2021-2022 PaceSetter in Hybrid Workplace

    Konica Minolta received a BLI 2021-2022 PaceSetter in Hybrid Workplace from Keypoint Intelligence. Through research in the North American market, BLI recognized document imaging OEMs that have the most forward-looking products, services, and initiatives when it comes to helping customers with their in-office, at-home and hybrid workforce needs. Konica Minolta stood out for its quick pivot to solutions addressing new customer needs as a result of the pandemic, including technology and services for employees working remotely and those returning to the office. Its unique Return to Work program delivers a system that encompasses self-reporting, on-site temperature checks and employee tracking to help protect the office-based workforce. The Remote Work package, delivered through All Covered, combines equipment such as laptops, wireless headsets, printers and a service desk to allow secure access to business content, while the Home Assurance package adds another level of security and capabilities through fully managed VPN connectivity and multi-layered security best practices.

    Keypoint Intelligence’s awards give special recognition to manufacturers and products that perform above their peers in its exhaustive lab tests. Read more online.

  14. Konica Minolta Launches AccurioPress C4080 Series

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    Ramsey, NJ, (December 1, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in world-class printing technology, is pleased to introduce a new line of versatile color digital production presses, the AccurioPress C4080 Series. This high-speed digital press offers robust and user-friendly production and is a perfect fit for businesses looking to expand their production capabilities with advanced automation and ease of use for various applications.

    “Our launch of the C4080 Series is yet another important step in enhancing our line of color production printers, providing an easy transition into digital printing with inline finishing options allowing prints to be boxed and shipped right off the press,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning. “The advanced automation, high quality and productivity and myriad finishing options these presses offer translate into endless opportunities for printers to expand into new markets and develop new revenue streams.”

    The AccurioPress C4080 is an all-in-one print factory that will help enable business growth through intelligent automation, outstanding image quality and print application diversity. The C4080 Series replaces the C3080 Series, an entry-level, light production press debuted in March 2018. The C4080 Series also includes the AccurioPress C4070 and AccurioPrint C4065, a lighter version of the C4080 that can bridge the gap between an office and production print with the same image quality at a more affordable price point.

    Advanced Automation

    The AccurioPress C4080 Series brings automation to a new level with the TU-510 Inline Trimmer Unit, which produces fully-finished output with inline slitting and trimming and additional options for inline creasing (valley and mountain crease), business cards, postcard cutting and perforation (vertical and horizontal). Plus, the TU-510 has an option to deliver fully trimmed and creased long sheets of up to 51″ to the output tray.

    New to the C4080 Series is the IM-101 external media detection sensor, an optional sensor for measuring and identifying media, ensuring the correct media settings are selected no matter the operator’s skill. The TU-510, IM-101, and the IQ-501, a fully automated, closed-loop quality management tool, provide customers with the ability to produce fully-finished, high-quality, ready to be boxed output quickly and easily without skilled operators — meaning increased uptime, productivity, quality, and profit.

    Image Quality and Media Flexibility

    The AccurioPress C4080 provides outstanding image quality with 3600 (equivalent) x2400 dpi resolution and prints duplex sheets up to 34”. Envelopes can be printed with the standard fuser at half speed, or full speed with an optional dedicated envelope fuser. The IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Optimizer also comes into play here, performing automatic density correction and front-to-back registration prior to printing. Media versatility up to 360 gsm will provide a wide portfolio of paper choices and print applications.

    Incredible Productivity and Versatility

    The AccurioPress C4080/C4070 and AccurioPrint C4065 digital press print at 80/70/65 ppm and offer the flexibility of 2-sided printing on sheets up to 34” long, allowing the capability of producing an 8-panel, letter-size brochure. The AccurioPress C4080 expands application offerings such as envelope printing without the need for an additional fuser. Experience unmatched productivity and versatility with the AccurioPress C4080/C4070 various finishing options, including booklets, perfect bound, punching, stapling, inline trimming, and stacking to meet customers’ needs and tap into new revenue streams.

    New Accessories

    Highly configurable accessories on the C4080 provide added value by allowing a business to build the press in a way that compliments their workflow. New accessories include:

    • TU-510 Versatile Trimmer Unit – an inline, four-edge trimmer, creaser and perforator that allows full bleed, support for long sheets and a dedicated business card cutting option.
    • LS-507 Large Stacker – supports long sheet 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.
    • IM-101 Intelligent Media Sensor – automatically identifies and registers paper.

    Visit Konica Minolta online to learn more about the AccurioPress C4080.

  15. Konica Minolta’s bizhub® i-Series Honored with Two Better Buys Editor’s Choice Awards

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    Ramsey, NJ, (November 12, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is proud to announce its bizhub® 650i Series has earned Better Buys Editor’s Choice Award in Q4 2020 for its black-and-white multifunctional printers (MFP) category. The devices were launched in September as part of an expansion of the bizhub i-Series line. The bizhub portfolio was also recognized earlier this year when the new bizhub C650i Series earned Better Buys Editor’s Choice Award in Q2 2020 for its high-volume machines category.

    Better Buys evaluates products both individually and compares them against the competition, on a range of criteria. This includes unique features, value to the customer and pricing. Konica Minolta’s bizhub C650i and 650i series were part of only a handful of vendors chosen for these honors.

    The bizhub i-Series product line is a part of Konica Minolta’s next-generation multifunctional device portfolio designed to empower digital workflows. These MFP models represent a new paradigm for how multifunctional devices meet the needs of businesses by serving as a secure, smart technology hub to augment office connectivity. All models boast the same fresh, contemporary exterior design, with great usability features, which Konica Minolta has become known for in the industry.

    “The launch of the monochrome models completed our bizhub i-Series product line and allow us to provide the ease of use we have become known for in the industry, with the choice of color or black and white,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta. “As the world of work and our customers and ends users’ needs continue to change, our bizhub multifunctional devices offer versatile and tailored solutions for any type of business and organization, ensuring minimal disruption to productivity and efficiency.”

    “Konica Minolta continues to bring innovative features that help the workplace collaborate better and improve productivity,” said Melissa Pardo-Bunte, Editor, Better Buys. “The bizhub C650i and 650i monochrome models bring robust features, such as fast engine speed, flexible paper-handling and a customizable touchscreen interface.”

    Visit Better Buys’ website to see the full reviews of the bizhub C650i i-Series and 650i i-Series.

  16. Konica Minolta to Ignite Print Possibilities as Exhibitor at PRINTING United Insight Days

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    RAMSEY, NJ (October 22, 2020) – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced its participation as a top sponsor at PRINTING United Insight Days, a virtual experience running October 26 through November 12 that will deliver an interactive series of community-based content sessions to connect the global printing industry.

    Konica Minolta knows its current and potential clients are searching for a provider of high quality, production-level, digital printing presses and products. To maintain its status as the brand of choice, it focuses on offering products, software solutions, and services. All this is aimed at enabling cost efficiencies and productivity options unique to digital printing, while delivering printed output of the highest caliber and consistency at a competitive price point. Given the new economic challenges due to the ongoing quarantine and health concerns, it is more important than ever for a solutions and hardware provider to be a true partner to printers to ensure financial recovery.

    “Considering the obvious challenges faced by the print industry this year, we are encouraging customers to ‘rethink the future of print,’ and look forward to engaging with and supporting printers during this event as they further embrace convergence,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning. “Our ongoing investment in growth businesses through our products in categories of decorative print, wide format, high-speed ink, packaging and labeling and production color will create new opportunities for our customers to increase revenue as they recover from the effects of the pandemic.”

    Konica Minolta will activate on numerous days throughout the 14-day event to promote its expansive product line and demonstrate the facilitation of convergence through its products. Participation on specific days will include:

    Wide Format Day – October 26

    Konica Minolta will showcase its AccurioWide 200 and 160, two wide format inkjet printers that help customers increase job applications to grow their business. These devices offer superior image quality and high productivity for outdoor and indoor job applications. Equipped with UV LED lamps, they enable printing on a wider range of media — while simultaneously saving energy, time and costs.

    Digital Inkjet Day – October 28

    The AccurioJet KM-1, often referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife” of printing for its versatility with substrates and applications, as well as its successor, the KM-1e, offer Konica Minolta’s unique, patented technology that solves the challenge of uncontrolled ink dot movement that reduces print quality and workable materials. Konica Minolta proudly promotes this technology that uniquely self-freezes ink drops upon contact with materials, resulting in superior color stability and consistency and excellent results with instantly dry perfect prints.

    Digital Toner Day Sponsorship – November 1

    Through this daily sponsorship, Konica Minolta will demonstrate the integration of the AccurioPress C14000/C12000, its high-speed toner-based digital presses, with the MGI JETvarnish 3D Evolution through exciting video footage taken at its state-of-the-art Customer Engagement Center (CEC). The 18,000 sq. foot facility located at its U.S. Headquarters in Ramsey, NJ showcases the latest technologies revolutionizing the production print industry. This includes Konica Minolta’s leading cut-sheet and roll-fed presses, MGI decorative embellishment and foil stamping presses, wide-format printers, label and packaging presses, and more.

    Konica Minolta is also poised to introduce its new high-speed digital printing press, the AccurioPress C4080, a brand new, all-in-one print factory. The C4080 Series replaces the C3080 Series, a lower-end production press debuted in June 2018. The perfect fit for businesses looking to expand their production capabilities, this robust and user-friendly production press will launch in a few weeks.

    Packaging Day Sponsorship – November 4

    Konica Minolta’s activation will focus on the integration of its KM-1 with the MGI JETvarnish 3D Evolution for extra added value and sensory dimensional textures to printed output through a product demo video with its KM-1 customer Vulcan Information Packaging. Attendees will learn how this customer transitioned into digital print finishing and was able to provide faster turnaround and unparalleled quality to its customers through improved color graphics and photos from the KM-1 and endless combinations of embellishment with MGI technology.

    Virtual Showcase – October 6 – December 31

    Throughout the event, Konica Minolta will conduct one-on-one meetings and schedule product demonstrations for current and prospective clients within its Virtual Showcase. Extensive content, including virtual events, will also be accessible to attendees to learn about all Konica Minolta’s technologies including the AccurioPress C14000, AccurioJet KM-1 and KM-1e, wide-format, MGI inkjet and embellishment and packaging and label technologies.

    A staunch advocate for the industry, Konica Minolta’s commitment to help lead the print industry to recovery and future growth is also demonstrated through its ongoing premier sponsorship of the PRINTING United Alliance, which includes support of important events such as the Color Conference, Continuous Improvement Conference and the TAGA Annual Technical Conference.

    Register online for PRINTING United Insight Days and visit Konica Minolta’s Virtual Showcase.

  17. Konica Minolta Receives BLI PaceSetter Award for Ease of Use in its Enterprise Devices

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    Ramsey, NJ (October 16, 2020) – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), is proud to announce it has received a prestigious Buyers Lab (BLI) PaceSetter award 2020-2021 in Ease of Use: Enterprise Devices from Keypoint Intelligence, the world’s leading independent evaluator for document imaging, software, hardware and services. Keypoint Intelligence based its selection on comprehensive testing and research, determining which OEM has incorporated the highest degree of end-to-end ease of use in the design of their enterprise devices.

    Organizations today need to provide employees across departments with hardware and printing infrastructure for a wide variety of applications. With this broad scope of functionalities, ease of use has become one of the most important features in modern multi-functional peripherals (MFPs). Konica Minolta is pursuing an uncompromising customer-centric approach: When developing a new MFP device, understanding use patterns, behaviors and user requirements is the cornerstone of its process. Konica Minolta’s close contact to its customers and additional research amongst dealers and other stakeholders enables it to create solutions perfectly suited for enterprise environments.

    Konica Minolta drives usability-enhancing innovations

    To determine the market leader, Keypoint Intelligence carried out a study on functionality in everyday usage situations in enterprise work scenarios. With the award, Keypoint Intelligence recognizes the importance of this factor in Konica Minolta’s product design and development. After conducting comprehensive research on what customers do with their devices and which functions are most needed, Konica Minolta created a unique, large control panel that is fully tiltable. The screen provides easy access to all basic settings and touch navigation for a pleasant and effective user experience.

    Keypoint Intelligence states: “Konica Minolta is very strong when it comes to typical print, scan and copy functions, what really separates these next-generation products form the competition are the apps onboard tools, and innovations.” Konica Minolta’s MarketPlace comes preinstalled on all new devices. It allows its customers to access cloud offerings such as Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, Google Mail, Microsoft OneDrive, OneDrive for Business and Microsoft Sharepoint. All of these applications are easily downloaded and directly used on the panel. Apps like Scan to Gmail, Sharepoint or OneDrive complement these options.

    Also, directly on the device, the How2 app allows users to access online instructions directly from the MFP. One of the most striking functionalities, however, is Konica Minolta’s Follow-You-Persona feature, which enables customization of the MFP panel with all tools and apps a specific user most frequently needs. This way, users can work even more efficiently from any device, anywhere.

    “We are particularly honored to receive this award, as it recognizes the diligent measures we take to understand customers and users’ needs in order to develop and deliver new solutions that serve individual preferences and working behaviors,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Planning and Management, Konica Minolta. “As we progress further into the advancement of the Intelligent Connected Workplace, we will continue to focus on design technologies that are intuitive and adapt to our users.”

    Konica Minolta has a long history of being a pioneer in regard to the user experience of its MFPs. Last year, the jury of the Good Design Award 2019 praised the A3 color MFPs bizhub C360i/C300i/C250i for their highly intuitive interfaces and user experience, and the C650i/550i/450i Series and recently introduced C750i, 750i, 650i/550i/450i and 360i/300 are based on this same award-winning interface. Although the company has offered the ability to tailor the MFP display to customers’ individual needs for more than ten years, Konica Minolta’s Personalize advances this concept even further, optimizing productivity by allowing users to access their own personalized UI instantly on any device around the world.

    Read Keypoint Intelligence’s announcement its Buyers Lab PaceSetter award 2020-2021 in Ease of Use: Enterprise Devices online.

  18. Konica Minolta Launches New Managed Application Services Packages

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    Ramsey, NJ, (October 15, 2020) – Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), today announced new Application as a Service packages including document and print management with advanced workflow, network fax and healthcare-specific offerings. These scalable and fully managed packages are enabled by the latest additions to the Workplace Hub product line. Workplace Hub Core and Smart provide a secure, fully managed platform with 24 x 7 monitoring and management. This avoids the customer needing to internally build, maintain or support the infrastructure needed for the applications.

    Workplace Hub Core has been introduced to support businesses of all sizes by providing a rack-based processing platform utilizing best-in-breed hardware and software with a suite of managed IT services and support. The customer does not have to provide, build or maintain anything while getting the peace of mind their solution is always on, always available and fully secure.

    Workplace Hub Smart offers the same functionality as Core – plus the power of the bizhub i-Series products – with an embedded server in the base, providing customers with print and copy speeds ranging from 25ppm to 65ppm (pages per minute), with Scan speeds ranging from 100/200ipm to 140/280ipm (images per minute).

    “We’re extremely pleased to be able to launch these new packages and further expand the Workplace Hub offering to our customers. As digital transformation becomes ever more important as businesses adapt to new external forces, it was important for us to broaden the number of application services and packages to create an even more customizable suite,” said Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President, Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies, Konica Minolta. “With Core and Smart we combine hardware, solution software, professional services, managed services and administrator support to deliver a service that is always on, always available, and hassle-free for one monthly fee.”

    These new packages will include the following offerings:

    • Document management to provide process automation for the storage and retrieval of documents, content, emails and data
    • Print management to enable businesses and organizations of any size to manage, analyze, account and optimize print, copy, fax and scan output while providing document security to help comply with government regulations
    • Print management with single sign-on (SSO) to advanced workflows
    • Flexible and configurable network faxing with integration and automation capabilities
    • Healthcare bundles to secure Protected Health Information (PHI) from EHR backend systems

    Visit Konica Minolta online for more information on Workplace Hub Core and Smart and to book an appointment with a representative for a customized consultation.

  19. Konica Minolta Named in Managed Print Services Market by Gartner

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    Ramsey, NJ (October 6, 2020) – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) has been recognized in the Market Guide for Managed Print Services (MPS) in the Digital Workplace by Gartner, the world’s leading research and advisory company. MPS providers named in the June, 2020 report “are able to deliver MPS from small and large enterprises within a broad array of industries, and in at least three global regions.” Gartner further states, ”in this Market Guide, we have included the providers that have received the most client interest based upon searches on Gartner.com and customer inquiry.”

    “We have made significant investments into our print services and solutions, and will continue to drive innovation as clients’ needs grow for secure home printing solutions, cloud-enabled digital workflow services and cloud print infrastructure transformation services,” said Rick Taylor, President and CEO Konica Minolta. “Having our efforts recognized by such an organization we consider an immense honor, and we are pleased to be among these providers of managed print services.”

    As the digital workplace evolves, Konica Minolta realizes the necessity of providing advanced capabilities to further drive the intelligent connected workplace. These include cloud enablement and services, security consultancy services and app-enabled print platforms. Konica Minolta was praised for its OEM-branded solutions that are able to manage print streams using direct IP printing or print queues. This includes solutions such as Consult: Secure Print and Dispatcher Paragon/Suite.

    Dispatcher Paragon/Suite

    Launched in 2011, Dispatcher Phoenix, Konica Minolta’s award-winning scan/document workflow management solution allows customers to manage document/content capturing and workflow design and automation capability through an intuitive UI and robust platform. In 2019, the company introduced Dispatcher Suite, which combines Dispatcher Phoenix with Dispatcher Paragon, its print output management solution, offering an all in one, integrated platform streamlining from print management to document capture and workflow management.

    “We are confident our award-winning Dispatcher Suite helps further accelerate our successful MPS engagements by offering added convenience and tangible value to our clients. It helps them expand their digital transformation from MFP fleet management into content capturing and workflow management,” said Nick Pegley, Senior Vice President, Digital Workplace, Konica Minolta.

    Consult: Secure Print

    In order to provide centralized fleet monitoring/management services, Konica Minolta utilizes its Consult platform, leveraging multi-tenant cloud infrastructure. Consult remotely installs a lightweight Windows application – the ‘Consult App’ – which runs at the client’s site. The App scans MFP IP addresses, detecting devices and transmitting MIB data to the cloud. It also monitors MFP diagnostics for optimal fleet performance. Consult includes Cartographer, a cloud-based current/transition/future-state fleet mapping solution that provides fleet optimization recommendations.

    To further build on its strategy to provide the most comprehensive portfolio of intelligent connected workplace solutions, Konica Minolta is partnered with Google, which allows the company and its dealer partners to offer the full suite of Google Cloud solutions. Its alliance with Dropbox provides customers with management of their business processes and supports their digital transformation initiatives.

    Visit Konica Minolta online to learn more about its print management software and solutions.

  20. Konica Minolta Expands bizhub® i-Series Line with New Monochrome Devices

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    Ramsey, NJ, (September 14, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in world-class printing technology, has expanded its bizhub® i-Series with the launch of six new black and white A3 multifunctional printers (MFPs). The new bizhub 750i, 650i, 550i, 450i, 360i and 300i multifunctional devices offer functionality with beneficial features for workplaces with printing needs ranging from low-volume to high-volume, not requiring color output.

    The launch expands Konica Minolta’s offering with the addition of the 75ppm 750i, a speed not available in its previous monochrome MFP lineup. Like all models in the bizhub i-Series product line, the new units meet a wide range of needs for businesses by offering a simple, convenient and secure smart technology hub to augment office connectivity.

    Simple

    The six new monochrome units are all based on the bizhub i-Series platform, with the same modern design and easy operation as the color line to ensure uniformity in operation and solution integration and services. An enhanced user interface allows jobs to be performed quickly and easily and with fewer keystrokes. The bizhub monochrome units offer the usability customers have come to expect from the i-Series, including a consistent user experience between engines, even for businesses with mixed fleets.

    The units mirror the functionality of the color versions exactly, with the exception of the Fiery controller and related software. There is no learning curve since the capabilities are consistent throughout the bizhub i-Series line.

    The large, floating 10″ tablet-style touch panel with a 26° to 90° tilt angle provides convenient accessibility and operation for all users with standard customization functionality as well as through the optional MarketPlace UI Builder, Personalize and Personalize’s Follow-You Persona. Easy, touchless accessibility is provided through the bizhub Remote Access app, enabling remote MFP panel operations, data entry and scanned data import from the convenience of a mobile and tablet device.

    As a testament to its design and easy operation, the i-Series was recently recognized by Keypoint Intelligence as a recipient of 2020-21 BLI PaceSetter award in Ease of Use: Enterprise Devices, noting that ease of use is a critical factor in product design and development for Konica Minolta and it has “made its mark with usability-enhancing innovations.”

    Secure

    As an extension of the bizhub i-Series, the monochrome devices also offer the highest built-in security standards with additional options for a complete security setting. Data is protected and reliably accessible through a layered approach to ensure the ultimate defense against any potential threat.

    The Solid-State Drive (SSD) offers greater security than a traditional hard disk drive, using flash memory instead of magnetic storage that may not completely erase deleted data. In addition, all SSL communications are encrypted through a highly secure encryption algorithm which is based on the U.S. NSA (National Security Agency) standard and available only from Konica Minolta. All i-Series models are compliant with GDPR and ISO 15408 certified HCD-PP, ensuring that all data privacy standards and endpoint security requirements are met.

    Additionally, through bizhub SECURE services, security is tailored to specific needs through data encryption, locked passwords, secured access and device network settings. The optional BitDefender® anti-virus software safeguards against viruses and malware by scanning incoming and outgoing data, adding yet another security layer to protect a business’ ecosystem.

    Convenient

    Users of the new monochrome devices will enjoy many of the handy features offered by the i-Series line – not available on previous black and white models – that serve to increase productivity and serviceability. A new, soft close feature has been introduced on the dual scan feeder, and double-feed detection comes standard to avoid paper jams when media sticks together. First copy out and warm-up times have also been reduced to save time.

    The optional Intelligent Media Sensor, developed exclusively by Konica Minolta, automatically detects stock weight and makes necessary adjustments, streamlining shifts between media. An improved waste toner box eliminates spills when replacing cartridges. Designed to consume minimal power while the printer is not in use, the i-Series is one of the top energy-saving MFPs in the industry.

    As part of Konica Minolta’s next-generation multifunctional device portfolio designed to empower digital workflows, the new monochrome MFPs have also been designed to work with sophisticated workflow tools such as Konica Minolta’s Dispatcher Suite, also layered by security options through bizhub SECURE services. This allows for businesses to have effective print management and advanced document workflow while maintaining document security.

    “Keeping our customers and end users in mind, as well as the ever-changing ways of work, our bizhub® i-Series multifunctional devices offer versatile and tailored solutions for any type of business and organization, ensuring minimal disruption to productivity and efficiency,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta. “With the addition of the monochrome models, our i-Series product line is now complete, providing the ease of use we have become known for in the industry with the choice of color or black and white.”

    In addition to the BLI PaceSetter award recognizing ease of use, Konica Minolta has received many other industry accolades for its bizhub i-Series, including the international Red Dot and Good Design awards for product design, ASTOR Homeland Security Awards and Better Buys Editor’s Choice awards.

    The bizhub i-Series monochrome devices offer versatile configurations to meet customer requirements in terms of workflow, applications and budget. Learn more about the 750i, 650i, 550i and 450i, 360i and 300i online.

  21. Konica Minolta Named a Worldwide Leader by IDC MarketScape for Print Transformation

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    Ramsey, NJ, (September 9, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is proud to announce it has been named as a leader in the IDC MarketScape: ‘Worldwide Print Transformation 2020 Vendor Assessment’ (doc #US45354420, August 2020).

    Konica Minolta has pursued an active approach to significantly grow its product portfolio and capabilities, leveraging its expertise in technology, products and workflow solutions to provide clients with the tools and competencies to support their digital transformation. The IDC MarketScape states that “Konica Minolta has successfully executed this plan in targeted areas such as managed IT services, security, voiceover IP (VoIP), enterprise content management, business process outsourcing and vertical specific ERP and CRM solutions.” The report notes that “…customers seeking more than just a refresh of their printer/MFP portfolio and more of a vision of the workplace’s evolution into the future may want to consider Konica Minolta.”

    Konica Minolta’s respective portfolio is also recognized by the IDC MarketScape in its report, as its product evolution involves a continuum of products and services including hardware, managed services, and business process automation integrated into an Intelligent Connected Workplace. The company maintains a client-centric approach to portfolio development in order to build profitable business solutions with its clients as they navigate through their digital transformation journeys to support the Workplace of the Future™. IDC MarketScape assessed that “Konica Minolta believes that technology needs to be human centered, so understanding the motivations, wants, and needs of the worker is essential. The company will focus on the ‘why’ when implementing new technology and not just the ‘how’.”

    “Throughout the pandemic, Konica Minolta focused on using innovation and technology to solve clients’ business challenges. We reimagined, repackaged and repurposed existing technologies to create new offerings to help companies maintain business continuity,” said Kay Fernandez, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Konica Minolta. “The IDC MarketScape’s assessment is a testament to our ongoing hard work and efforts to assist clients with the acceleration toward digital transformation, and further imparts confidence amongst our clients that we will continue to pivot as the world of work further evolves.”

    One main reason for the positioning as a leader is Konica Minolta’s transition toward being a partner for holistic printing and office IT solutions. The report highlights a specific product example of Konica Minolta’s digital solutions: “Konica Minolta’s MarketPlace platform represents a key element in the company’s Intelligent Connected Workplace vision. The Konica Minolta MarketPlace platform makes it easy for customers to access the tools they need to connect their MFPs to various industry-related, security and cloud service apps. Konica Minolta’s bizhub i-Series devices are increasingly becoming the centerpiece of the ‘Intelligent Connected Workplace’ of its customers.”

    Amongst its IT solutions, Konia Minolta is also providing its small and medium-sized business clients with a literal ‘hub’ for their IT: Workplace Hub. Available in different versions, it brings together best-in-class hardware with compatible software and managed services, unburdening and empowering their IT. Konica Minolta’s leadership role in driving the digitalization makes it an attractive partner both for clients as well as investors.

    Within the framework of its DX Stock 2020 program, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) organized the Competitive IT Strategy Company Stock Selection. It highlights companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange that are particularly attractive for investors that prioritize improving corporate value over the medium to long term. As one of those companies, Konica Minolta has been highly rated with regard to the potential of its new business model, including digital transformation support services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under its Intelligent Connected Workplace. Learn more online.

  22. Konica Minolta launches Personalize App with Follow-You Persona Service

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    Ramsey, NJ, (August 31, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is proud to announce the Personalize app with Follow-You Persona Service, an advanced, industry-leading solution that allows users to customize the MFP panel on i-Series devices according to their individual preferences and have their personalized user interface (UI) follow them to any supported device on a global scale.

    In times of increasingly complex working environments, user experience is key for adopting technology. People need to be able to understand technology quickly and use it intuitively without the need for lengthy or extensive training. Users expect, for instance, a similar user experience to the one they know from their mobile phone. Personalize specifically addresses this challenge, allowing employees to easily customize the MFP UI to match their own working behavior and needs, decreasing the time they spend in front of their devices while increasing efficiency and operational cost savings.

    Konica Minolta has a long history of being a pioneer in regard to the user experience of its MFPs. Last year, the jury of the Good Design Award 2019 praised the A3 color MFPs bizhub C360i/C300i/C250i for their highly intuitive interfaces and user experience, and the C650i/550i/450i Series and recently introduced C750i are based on this same award-winning interface. Although the company has offered the ability to tailor the MFP display to customers’ individual needs for more than ten years, Konica Minolta’s Personalize advances this concept even further, optimizing productivity by allowing users to access their own personalized UI instantly on any device around the world. Personalize’s advanced technology was recently recognized by Keypoint Intelligence as part of Konica Minolta’s 2020-21 BLI PaceSetter award in Ease of Use: Enterprise Devices, an honor that recognizes OEMs for incorporating end-to-end ease of use in the design of enterprise devices.

    “The enhanced features we offer through Personalize truly pave the way to the Intelligent Connected Workplace,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning. “Taking into consideration the fact that multifunctional devices can have multiple users, we designed an experience based on individual preferences and working behaviors.”

    Decreasing operational costs and time spent in front of the MFP, while increasing efficiency

    Konica Minolta’s new Personalize app allows users to create individual MFP UIs that are immediately accessible when they authenticate to the device. Features and functions frequently accessed can be moved to the front using drag-and-drop functionality, while features that are not used – or used infrequently – can be removed from view. This allows more efficient operation of the MFP display, as the removal of unused functions causes less distraction for users, and faster access to frequently used functions means less time spent using the MFP in total. Users can also select their individual preferred language in which all MFP functions are presented, a useful feature for organizations with employees from all over the world. And, to add even more of a personal touch, users can choose a custom background for their UIs, selecting from pre-loaded images or (coming shortly) from their own uploaded images.

    Personalize’s Follow-You Persona allows the individual UI to follow each user to any supported device within an organization upon authentication. With this unique service, users can have immediate access to their personalized UI wherever they go, with no additional set-up required. This cloud service also provides an easily accessible online admin portal for license and device management, making it easy for our customers to manage Personalize in their office.

    Three different plans for organizations of all sizes

    While the Personalize app is free of charge, the Personalize Follow-You Service is available via subscription with three plans to support customers ranging from SMEs to the enterprise level: Starter, Business, and Enterprise. The Starter Plan is an introductory plan that offers basic Follow-You Persona features and is best suited for small business. With the Business Plan, customers benefit from all the features of the Starter Plan along with additional personalization features for users. And the Enterprise Plan is an advanced plan that offers individualized support to give administrators more control.

    Although these plans will be available on December 1, 2020 as chargeable plans, all Enterprise Plan features are available now through November 30, 2020 as an extended free trial. To access the free Personalize app, go to Konica Minolta’s Marketplace. Once the app has been installed, users can start the extended trial via the Personalize website.

  23. Konica Minolta Launches All New Flagship Color A3 MFP bizhub C750i

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    Ramsey, NJ, (August 19, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is proud to announce the latest addition to its bizhub i-Series, the bizhub C750i. The A3 high-volume color multi-functional peripheral (MFP) device is designed to provide the functionality of a small-scale print shop within a single unit suitable for an office space. The bizhub C750i offers the usability customers have come to expect from the i-Series, including a consistent user experience between engines, even for businesses with mixed fleets.

    The bizhub C750i fulfills the needs of customers who process high-volume print jobs such as small CRDs or small- and mid-size copy shops. It can be used in office environments that require a high volume of printing in spaces ranging from a small room or corridor to a warehouse. The device is ideal for a wide range of offices including government, legal, education, healthcare environments and membership organizations.

    “The bizhub C750i launch is a result of continually listening to our customers, tracking market needs and reviewing trends to provide devices that keep up with the ever-changing needs of the office,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta. “Its many enhanced features include higher print speeds for improved productivity, an intelligent media sensor for increased efficiency and of course, the latest in security to ensure data is protected.”

    The bizhub C750i is the successor to the award-winning bizhub C759 MFP, with greater functionality, offering a print speed of up to 75ppm in mono and 70ppm in color. The high-capacity and high-speed dual-scan document feeder with double feed detection runs with a speed of up to 140/280ipm, ideal for schools or legal offices requiring larger scan volumes or digital archiving.

    The bizhub C750i features versatile large finishers with an integrated manual stapler and offers a quick copy mode to guarantee faster copying with fewer clicks and pop-ups, with all main settings available at a glance. Additionally, the home screen customization makes it quicker to add, rearrange or remove the icons. Konica Minolta’s anticipated “Personalize” app offers users the ability to personalize the display of their MFP according to their individual preferences. Functions and features can be matched to their own individual working behavior and routines, decreasing the time employees spend in front of their devices and increasing efficiency and operational cost savings.

    Intelligent media sensor reduces paper jams and improves output quality

    Office communication requires different print media, and good print quality cannot be achieved unless the paper thickness is set correctly. Addressing the paper settings entails additional work every time users want to print. The bizhub C750i features an intelligent media sensor which instantly measures the paper type and thickness – for instance, thin or thick paper, recycled paper or envelopes – and automatically adjusts the paper settings as needed. This feature ensures fewer paper jams, fewer service calls, increased efficiency and better output quality.

    Embedded security

    As office documents become more digitized and the volumes of data increase, companies and institutions need centralized management and better access to documents for reference. They require more sophisticated integration with the cloud and advanced remote access, meaning more complex workflows and a need for better security. The bizhub C750i is equipped with the latest security technology to provide a safe, reliable user environment. The optional Bitdefender’s leading edge anti-virus solution monitors all scanned files and documents transferred to and from it in real time. It also enables automatic virus scanning on hard drives as well as manual scans. With bizhub SECURE, different security levels and access licenses can be set to ensure the security of office devices and protect device memory and network settings.

    Remote usage and support

    Similar to all other models in the bizhub i-Series, the bizhub C750i can be operated remotely, without the user ever having to even touch the control panel. The device can accommodate multiple users accessing the unit via computers, mobile phones and tablets. Konica Minolta also offers fast and professional support via a remote services tool.

    Approaching the digital workplace with intelligent features

    More and more businesses seek to become digital connected workplaces that bring together people, spaces and devices with data. The bizhub i-Series MFPs, including the bizhub C750i, are smart IoT-enabled devices offering a fully digital workplace, designed to pave the way to the “Intelligent Connected Workplace.” The bizhub C750i combines printing with process efficiency to empower customers to organize, streamline and customize their printing landscape while providing the tools to digitize workflows. With an innovative and intuitive user experience and powerful built-in processing capabilities, the bizhub C750i is able to provide secure access to a suite of cloud-based services and applications via Konica Minolta’s MarketPlace.

  24. Konica Minolta Strengthens Environmental Commitment With GREENGUARD Certification For AccurioWide Inks

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    Ramsey, NJ, (July 20, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in world-class printing technology, is pleased to announce it has achieved GREENGUARD Gold Certification for its AccurioWide inks in a move that underpins its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

    For decades, Konica Minolta has been committed to sustainability across its global operations. Its environmental action plan, Eco Vision 2050, sets ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint and preserve the planet, while enabling customers to do the same. Products receiving the GREENGUARD certifications are scientifically proven to meet some of the world’s most rigorous third-party emissions standards, helping to reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure.

    “Achieving the GREENGUARD Gold Certification for our AccurioWide wide format UV LED inks demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility and is one of the many ways we fulfill our mission to create value for society while contributing to a sustainable future.” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning. “As a global company, we are accountable to our customers to consider health and the environment as part of our product development process so they too can reduce their environmental impact wherever they can.”

    In addition to maintaining low indoor emissions, Konica Minolta’s AccurioWide UV LED inkjet inks for sign and display printing offer the following benefits:

    • Wide color gamut and high color vibrancy for dynamic results that impress and inspire
    • Versatility to print on rigid or flexible media with accuracy and excellent adhesion to broaden the scope of possible applications
    • Lowest ink consumption per square foot – the lowest on the market

    GREENGUARD certification is provided by UL, a global safety science company that promotes safe, secure and sustainable living and working environments for people by the application of science, hazard-based safety engineering and data acumen.

  25. Konica Minolta Launches Workplace Hub Pro

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    Ramsey, NJ, (July 15, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), today announced Workplace Hub Pro, further strengthening its all-in-one IT offering to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Joining the Hub and Edge solutions in the next-generation Workplace Hub portfolio, the newly launched device combines powerful, smart office printing technology from Konica Minolta’s bizhub i-Series MFP range, with best-of-breed software and managed IT services – all in a single solution.

    Designed with the particular IT needs of SMBs in mind, Workplace Hub Pro combines the innovative Workplace Hub software with high-quality bizhub® i-Series printing and scanning capabilities to deliver a powerful solution for the intelligent connected workplace. The advanced solution offers customers print and copy speeds ranging from 25ppm to 65ppm (pages per minute), and scanning speeds range from 100/200ipm to 140/280ipm (images per minute). Workplace Hub Pro also offers a comprehensive portfolio of features and applications including print and document management, cloud back-up and remote virtual public network (VPN) connection, and WiFi management to give users the convenience of working with a single provider for all their technology needs.

    Konica Minolta’s customer research has shown the five biggest SMB challenges are an aging/non-scalable IT infrastructure, few or no internal IT management resources and knowledge to manage ever-growing IT environments and different providers, lack of storage and proper backup, low level of security and little transparency on costs. Recent developments of the COVID-19 crisis have created further challenges for customers, making remote access and collaboration a clear and urgent necessity for them. It highlights the impairments their work processes face by an inadequate and out-of-date IT infrastructure and the need for VPN access as well as smart IT set-ups.

    “That’s why we believe in growing the Workplace Hub ecosystem – to relieve our customers of these challenges, and help them focus more on their business,” said Nick Pegley, Senior Vice President, Digital Workplace, Konica Minolta. “Smaller businesses in particular only have very limited IT resources at their disposal, so for many of our SMB customers, the Workplace Hub portfolio has been a true game changer with regard to their IT capabilities.”

    These scalable, secure and reliable hybrid IT solutions integrate both physically and virtually even into the smallest office environment, providing digital work tools users require. With managed IT services accessible through these solutions, Konica Minolta can take care of all of its customers’ IT needs, allowing even small businesses to benefit from an IT infrastructure otherwise only accessible to larger companies.

    Howie Flagler, Vice President of Spector Textile Products and Konica Minolta customer, explains: “Our company, like many small firms, struggles to keep updated with the rapid changes in IT. Maintaining aging hardware, tracking updates, license renewals, implementing upgrades and other tasks all become challenging. We realized that these functions were draining resources away from our primary objectives. Konica Minolta’s Workplace Hub, coupled with their IT managed services, allows us to focus on our business knowing that our IT needs will be managed effectively.”

    Konica Minolta is constantly optimizing and redefining its services and solutions according to fast-changing markets and small businesses requirements, aiming to provide its customers with exactly the solutions they need. “Particularly in smaller businesses and organizations, printing, copying, faxing and scanning are still very much at the core of everyday business routines. Recognizing this need, we decided to provide the full scope of paper-to-digital and digital-to-paper work processing in a Workplace Hub solution, and so we built in the full IT infrastructure into our fully functional and powerful smart MFP bizhub i-Series,” Pegley added.

    The set-up also allows for a seamless integration of information and business process management, be it digital or paper-based. To ensure the highest level of security, the IT solution and the MFP functionalities run on two separate systems. “Workplace Hub Pro is designed as the heart of our smaller customers’ intelligent connected workplace, simplifying both their IT and paper-based document processing. At the same time, it keeps capital as well as operational costs low and flexibility high, as customers pay a consistent monthly fee,” Pegley concludes.

  26. Konica Minolta Announces AccurioJet KM-1e B2+ LED UV Inkjet Press

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    Ramsey, NJ, (June 25, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), today announced the AccurioJet KM-1e digital color B2+ sheetfed LED UV inkjet production press, continuing its accelerated growth path within the industrial print market.

    Since its launch at Drupa 2016, the AccurioJet KM-1 has been acclaimed as the top choice among B2+ production digital printing presses. Many leading commercial printers, direct mailers, online printers, in-plant print shops, publishing and book printing companies have benefited from multiple installations as a result of the world-class media versatility of Konica Minolta’s original LED UV inkjet technologies. The AccurioJet KM-1 has also realized a high quality that exceeds offset printing without changing the surface quality of the paper media, which has previously been considered impossible with digital printing presses.

    Inheriting excellence from the AccurioJet KM-1, the AccurioJet KM-1e embodies infinite business expansion possibilities, from current business fields to more profitable businesses. Konica Minolta amplified benefits of the LED UV inkjet technology to maximize quality and printing capability on various types of media such as plastics, backlit signage, transparent film, foiled paper, metallic media, canvas and synthetic substrates. The AccurioJet KM-1e will continue to help customers pursue high value-added products where high-quality production, extensive media compatibility and personalization are required.

    “We have attained a leadership position in the North American marketplace with our LED UV inkjet technology and finishing solutions, and we are proud to announce the AccurioJet KM-1e as the newest addition to our Industrial Print lineup of world class solutions,” said Bill Troxil, Senior Vice President, Industrial and Inkjet Printing, Konica Minolta. “Our customers will be enabled to deliver the best print quality and wide variety of substrates to their end user clients like never before.”

    “Under our concept ’Igniting Print Possibilities’ we summarize our drive to solve customers’ and social challenges by the means of digital printing through further automation, integrated on-demand digital production and visualization of quality and operation. The AccurioJet KM-1e is a key pillar in ourstrategy to help our customers seize the many new opportunities digitalisation brings along, supporting the trend to switch from offset to inkjet printing in a fast-growing market,” said Toshi Uemura, Executive Officer, Division President of Professional Print, Konica Minolta Inc.

    He added: “The main benefit of AccurioJet KM-1e remains its infinite expansion possibilities. It helps customers to unlock doors to new and more profitable applications. As just one example, we know from feedback that some customers are working more with agencies directly now thanks to the combination of world-class technologies. We can offer from high quality print through to varnishing and highly sophisticated decorative cutting for customer business expansions.”

    Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1, often referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife” of printing for its versatility with substrates and applications, as well as its successor, benefits from Konica Minolta’s unique, patented technology that has overcome one of the fundamental challenges of inkjet printing – uncontrolled ink dot movement that reduces print quality and workable materials. The technology uniquely self-freezes ink drops upon contact with materials, resulting in superior color stability and consistency and excellent results with instantly dry perfect prints.

    Visit our website for more information about Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1e LED UV Inkjet Press.

  27. Konica Minolta Launches AccurioPress 6136P MICR

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    Ramsey, NJ, (May 21, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in world-class printing technology, is pleased to introduce a new addition to its product line-up – a MICR version of the AccurioPress 6136 – giving the 6136P product line a MICR toner and developer that will have significant impact on the financial printing market.

    “While personal checks are on the downtrend, commercial bank checks are still in high demand, with usage in financial institutions, government agencies and educational segments,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta. “MICR printing represents a huge market with more than five billion checks printed annually.”

    Konica Minolta partnered with TROY Group to help convert the AccurioPress 6136P to a MICR version, combining TROY’s patented MICR Toner Secure™ with its own proprietary developer bead. The toner has been extensively tested to ABA/ANSI standards. TROY Group is a worldwide leader in OEM MICR developed printers and has many patents on MICR Technology.

    “Through our partnership with Konica Minolta we are setting the standard in production check printing solutions for anti-tamper payments,” said Michael Riley, Executive Vice President/General Manager at TROY Group, Inc. “We recognized the market need for a production solution to fill a void in the secure payment printing space. The AccurioPress 6136P MICR leverages Konica Minolta’s long history of print innovation and introduces TROY’s patented, MICR Toner Secure technology.”

    TROY’s MICR Toner Secure, MICR developer and MICR fonts were designed specifically for use in the 6136P print engine to ensure consistent MICR quality and performance. The AccurioPress 6136P MICR combines exceptional speed and versatility with unmatched durability and reliability to deliver high-quality, tamper resistant MICR documents in high-volume production environments. TROY’s expertise in MICR toner development translates to consistent MICR character quality and the use of MICR Toner Secure guarantees The World’s Most Fraud Resistant MICR Toner™.

    The biggest benefit of the AccurioPress 6136P MICR print solution is its print speed of 136 ppm and unique TROY MICR Toner Secure, a proven industry standard in financial check printing. The high-quality toner – engineered exclusively for the 6136 Konica Minolta engine – maximizes readability and makes toner scraping nearly impossible. Through patented security technology, red dye is released which voids the check if chemical alteration is attempted.

    The printer can be specified to optimize print settings instantaneously, providing efficient paper setups with each job for up to 256 media profiles. Its 15-inch touch panel makes operating easy and affords greater visibility and operability. Operators can view and edit job tickets, create previews and print sample output to confirm results, allowing for output operations that are efficient and waste free. Advanced job management support simplifies output work and reduces labor costs.

    Optional software available is AccurioPro VDP for variable data applications. The 6136P MICR production print device supports camera-based monitoring systems and document integrity software to ensure every piece prints in order.

    Visit us online for more information about the AccurioPress 6136P MICR.

  28. Konica Minolta’s bizhub® Connector for Dropbox App Now Supports Dropbox Business

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    Ramsey, NJ, (May 12, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is proud to announce the immediate availability of Dropbox Business for its bizhub product line. The updated bizhub Connector for Dropbox app now allows access to Dropbox Business from existing Konica Minolta i-Series multifunction printers (MFP) and Workplace Hub models using the MarketPlace platform, expanding front-to-back end office automation and streamlining office efficiency, productivity and collaboration. The app is a unique offering exclusive to Konica Minolta, clearly setting the company’s MFPs apart in an overly commoditized market.

    The bizhub Connector for Dropbox app offers organizations increased security capabilities and much more visibility over MFP usage. Users can take advantage of Dropbox’s unique collaboration features, including the smart workspace, perfect for supporting a remote workforce. The Dropbox Business offering includes a choice of four different subscription levels, available through Konica Minolta’s dealer and direct sales channels.

    From document management to workplace IT, office processes today run on an abundance of different systems and services, forcing employees to manage extremely complex workflows. Konica Minolta not only provides its customers with solutions for their digital transformation, but assists them in tailoring the solutions to efficiently manage and control these business processes, shaping their workplace of the future. The updated bizhub Connector for Dropbox app and additional Dropbox Business subscription levels provide additional advantages to Konica Minolta’s current MFP users as they have one organized place for all their content, can stay focused on their most important work and get coordinated across the team – all directly from the MFP.

    “Providing tools for growth while reducing complexity is at the heart of our Connected Office approach, and the incorporation of Dropbox Business really differentiates our MFPs from others in the market,” said Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President, Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies, Konica Minolta. “In addition to further enhancing our MFP capabilities, the immediate availability of Dropbox Business subscriptions will empower our SMB customers with a simple way to share files and keep those files synchronized, well-organized and easily accessible, expanding and improving on their digital-focused workplace of the future.”

    Konica Minolta announced its partnership with Dropbox at its Dealer Summit in October, 2019 as part of its strategy to provide opportunities for dealers to align with leading companies in all areas that support SMBs and the workplace of the future. The company is committed to helping dealers serve their existing customers and win new business by supporting them to rethink today’s workplace and redefine the way organizations work.

    “Dropbox is excited about forming a strategic alliance with Konica Minolta to help customers work more effectively with content and MFPs,” said Dropbox Head of Channel, Simon Aldous. “Konica Minolta and Dropbox will deliver best in class service and support to help organizations focus on the work that needs to be done and not the headaches of IT. With this partnership, customers have an opportunity to connect their MFPs to an industry leading collaboration solution to stay organized and connected to team members. Technology is an important investment for any organization and choosing a trusted advisor like Konica Minolta will help your organization stay competitive in your market.”

    The updated bizhub Connector for Dropbox app’s advanced features support Dropbox Business as well as additional functionality. Visit the Konica Minolta MarketPlace for more information.

  29. Konica Minolta Wins Red Dot Award 2020 for bizhub® i-Series

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    Ramsey, NJ, (April 7, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), is pleased to announce its i-Series has received the Red Dot Award – one of the world’s most prestigious design awards – in the category of Product Design 2020. The award-winning products are the bizhub C360i/C300i/C250i (A3 color MFP series) and the bizhub C4050i/C3350i (A4 color MFP).

    The bizhub i-Series combines printing with process efficiency to empower customers to organize, streamline and customize their printing landscape, while providing the tools to digitize workflows. With an innovative and intuitive user experience and powerful built-in processing capabilities, i-Series MFPs are able to provide secure access to a suite of cloud-based services and applications via Konica Minolta’s MarketPlace. This gives businesses the freedom to quickly tailor and easily harness each device’s capabilities. To ensure the highest security standards, they also offer a unique and comprehensive security system with an optional built-in anti-virus solution. Furthermore, with bizhub SECURE, different security levels can be set to protect device memory and network settings.

    The awarded bizhub models are part of the larger MFP i-Series portfolio, recently expanded through the launch of the new bizhub C450i, bizhub C550i and bizhub C650i – three new color A3 MFPs offering a choice of 45 ppm, 55 ppm or 65 ppm print speeds, respectively. The new devices boast the same fresh, contemporary exterior design as the rest of the bizhub i-Series models. With great usability features, such as the exclusive intelligent media sensor that detects media weight and automatically corrects the media setting, they provide uninterrupted use while optimizing print quality. These latest models replace the popular and highly successful bizhub C458, bizhub C558 and bizhub C658 models – enhancing Konica Minolta’s offering in the segment with the addition of extended smart capabilities that embrace the way businesses are evolving.

    “Digitization has not diminished the role of office printing devices or multifunctional peripherals (MFPs),” said Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence Services and Product Planning, Konica Minolta. “Our bizhub i-Series MFPs are smart, IoT-enabled devices that retain their traditional role for printing, copying and scanning while addressing market needs as businesses evolve and seek to bring together people, spaces and devices with data within the Intelligent Connected Workplace.”

    Since launching in June 2019, the bizhub i-Series has attracted worldwide attention for its high quality and outstanding design. In addition to the Red Dot Award, the bizhub C360i/C300i/C250i also received the Good Design Award 2019 from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP), receiving praise for their “sophisticated design,” highly intuitive interfaces and user experience. The series has also been recognized twice by Better Buys, receiving its 2020 Innovative Product of the Year and Editor’s Choice Award for 3Q 2019 in its MFP category.

  30. Konica Minolta’s bizhub® i-Series Honored with Better Buys 2020 Innovative Product of the Year

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    Ramsey, NJ, (March 31, 2020) Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is proud to announce its new bizhub C360i Series has earned Better Buys 2020 Innovative Product of the Year in its color MFP category.

    Better Buys evaluates products both individually and compares them against the competition on a range of criteria, including unique features, value to the customer and price. Konica Minolta’s bizhub C360i series was one of only a handful of vendors chosen for this honor.

    The bizhub C360i is part of the larger MFP i-Series portfolio. Designed to empower digital workflows more simply and securely, the new i-Series features a modern user interface with a fresh new look boosted with high-performance operation. The simple and intuitive menu layout is built to minimize the number of touches, followed by quick response functionality, so things get done faster. This new generation of bizhub color office units caters to the needs of businesses by servicing as a secure, smart technology hub to augment office connectivity.

    “The bizhub i-Series is a significant milestone in office print technology. They serve as smarter printers that connect the workplace more effectively and securely, and we’re honored to be recognized by Better Buys,” said Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence Services and Product Planning, Konica Minolta. “The wide breadth of capabilities, coupled with best-in-class service, ignite new opportunities for productivity and innovation towards the future of work.”

    Konica Minolta recently announced the expansion of its bizhub i-Series with the launch of three new color A3 MFPs. The new bizhub C450i, bizhub C550i and bizhub C650i offer a choice of 45ppm, 55ppm or 65ppm print speeds, respectively, and boast the same fresh, contemporary exterior design as the current bizhub i-Series models. With great usability features, such as the intelligent media sensor that detects media weight and automatically corrects the media setting, they provide uninterrupted use, while optimizing print quality. They replace the popular and highly successful bizhub C458, bizhub C558 and bizhub C658 models – enhancing Konica Minolta’s offering in the segment with the addition of extended smart capabilities that embrace the way businesses are evolving.

    “The bizhub C360i Series represent Konica Minolta’s innovative new line of devices that encourage more collaboration and streamline workflows,” said Melissa Pardo-Bunte, Editor, Better Buys. “It has strong features, such as the customizable touchscreen interface, upgraded security and scalable finishing.”

    See Better Buys’ full review of the bizhub C360i i-Series here.

  31. Konica Minolta to Exhibit at ISA Sign Expo 2020

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    RAMSEY, NJ (March 10, 2020) – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in industrial and commercial printing and packaging solutions, today announced its participation in the ISA International Sign Expo in Orlando, Florida, April 2 – 4.

    Konica Minolta will showcase its range of wide-format products developed to serve sign making and graphics printing applications. Specifically, the AccurioWide 200 and AccurioWide 160 hybrid UV LED wide format inkjet printers that allow for printing on a wide variety of rigid and flexible substrates. This includes thin heat-sensitive styrene, foils and laminates, coated paper, PET, fluted polypropylene, soft boards and industrial film. The option to layer printing with color and white ink will give print service providers the option to create backlit signage with a high-quality look and vibrant colors.

    The Konica Minolta AccurioWide 200 and 160 hybrid wide-format printers provide opportunity for those looking to expand their wide-format and sign business. The versatility of UV LED ink opens new markets for special and industrial printing with the ability to print unique sign and display jobs – or other applications such as small, 3D objects. The AccurioWide products also excel at printing on rigid and flexible substrates from 0.04 up to 1.77 inches. Loading media is a smooth and accurate process thanks to automated features of the media registration bar and the head height adjustment. The AccurioWide’s four-zoned vacuum system delivers equal or variable suction to ensure flawless media transport.

    The instant drying time of the UV LED inks increases productivity and return on investment through time saved, allowing users to stack, cut or ship immediately. Other benefits include high image quality of up to 1440 dpi, low-ink consumption per sq. ft., Konica Minolta 1024i print head technology and powerful AccurioPro WideDirector workflow software.

    For flatbed routing, creasing and cutting to complement the AccurioWide printers, the Colex Sharp Cut SX1732 flatbed cutter will also be on display. This product includes a fixed knife, oscillating knife and router, allowing for a multitude of applications for sign makers. Optional add-on tools are available to allow customers to customize the cutter to suit their specific needs and workflow.

    “We know quality and cost are top of mind when evaluating technology, and we designed the AccurioWide series with its users’ greatest needs at the forefront. Our customers continue to marvel at the products’ unbelievable flexibility and capability to handle a wide variety of specialty applications,” said Dino Pagliarello, Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta. “For sign makers and print service providers looking to expand their options, our wide-format production printers are the latest in hybrid UV LED inkjet technology – the perfect fit for anyone looking towards innovation, and we look forward to engaging with the audience at ISA to discuss their applications and ideas.”

    Free show passes are available to those who register for a product demo.

    Event attendees can request a meeting with Konica Minolta production print product managers or visit Booth 3723 to learn more about its wide-format printing solutions.

    Konica Minolta will also host a press breakfast and booth tour on Friday, April 3 from 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. Attending press can send an email to reserve their spot.

    About Konica Minolta

  32. Konica Minolta Provides Industry-first MFP Document Security Solution

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    Ramsey, N.J. – February 13, 2020 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in world-class business transformation solutions, continues to garner attention for its industry-leading bizhub SECURE Alert solution.

    According to recent research by Keypoint Intelligence*, a top business priority among IT decisions makers for the next three years is to improve data and document security. As the first in the industry to provide essential document security for its MFPs, Konica Minolta has already earned recognition and reports heightened interest in its offering launched in September 2019.

    “With the increasing concern about information security threats and data breaches, our bizhub SECURE alert service adds another level of protection against network and physical access risk,” said Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence Services and Product Planning. “The value and functionality provides levels of service no other provider can offer.”

    bizhub SECURE Alert provides critical data and document security by notifying organizations when a security breach has occurred at their MFP due to unauthorized usage. It also provides a detailed and keyword-searchable archive (audit trail) of all MFP activities. Only Konica Minolta provides this advanced level of MFP security with this low cost, all-inclusive application.

    When organizations are unaware a data or document breach has occurred, they are potentially left legally and financially liable for documents that are printed, copied, scanned, emailed and faxed. These data breaches at the MFP likely also expose an organization’s important trade secrets and intellectual property information as well as customer, patient, student, and employee data and personally identifiable information (PII).

    “bizhub SECURE Alert solves the problem of organizations not knowing who used the MFP for what and when,” said Chris Bilello, Director, Business Solutions and Market Development, Konica Minolta. “As data breach incidents become more common, we are experiencing a rise in interest in the product from concerned companies wanting to get ahead of potential security issues.”

    bizhub SECURE Alert was recently named a Platinum Award winner for “Best MFP Protection Solutions” by American Security Today at its 2019 ASTORS Homeland Security Awards.

    bizhub SECURE Alert, powered by DocRecord by Prism Software, is an application that automatically processes Konica Minolta MFP activity records. It provides essential security for industries such as healthcare, government, financial, insurance, defense, education and corporations.

    *2019 US IT Decision Makers Survey in SMB & Enterprise Markets, Keypoint Intelligence

  33. Konica Minolta Expands Smart, Connected bizhub® i-Series Line

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    Ramsey, N.J. – February 20, 2020 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in world-class printing technology, has expanded its new bizhub i-Series with the launch of three new color A3 multifunctional printers (MFPs.) The new bizhub C450i, bizhub C550i and bizhub C650i are a part of the next-generation multifunctional device portfolio designed to empower digital workflows. Like all models in the bizhub i-Series product line, the additions present a new paradigm for how multifunctional devices meet the needs of businesses by serving as a secure, smart technology hub to augment office connectivity.

    The three new A3 color MFPs boast the same fresh, contemporary exterior design with great usability features as the current bizhub i-Series models. The new card-type quick copy screen and various applications with integrated guidance allow for an even better user experience. In addition, newly developed widget technology allows embedding and operating functionality directly from the MFP’s home screen, shortening the time spent in front of the MFP and ensuring familiar use across all bizhub i-Series devices. Similarly, high-performance operation and quick response are assured by the same powerful quad-core central processing unit, standard 8 GB of memory and 256 GB solid state drive (SDD), plus an optional 1 TB SSD.

    The new bizhub C450i, C550i and C650i offer a choice of 45ppm, 55ppm or 65ppm print speeds, respectively. They replace the popular and highly successful bizhub C458, bizhub C558 and bizhub C658 models – enhancing Konica Minolta’s offering in the segment with the addition of extended smart capabilities that embrace the way businesses are evolving.

    “These three new MFPs strengthen the bizhub i-Series product line, offering faster, smarter office print technology, and serving as intelligent printers that connect the workplace more effectively and securely. They continue to cultivate the future of work by tailoring to the changing needs of businesses,” said Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence Services and Product Planning, Konica Minolta. “The wide breadth of applications available through the pre-installed Konica Minolta MarketPlace, coupled with best-in-class service power new opportunities for productivity and innovation.”

    These MFPs have also been designed to work with sophisticated workflow tools such as Konica Minolta’s Dispatcher Suite, layered by security options through bizhub SECURE services. This allows for businesses to have effective print management and advanced document workflow, while enhancing document security.

    As an added highlight, the three new MFPs feature a dual-scan document feeder that can accommodate up to 300 sheets, with a fast 280 ipm scan speed. They also feature large, newly designed finishers with an integrated manual stapler. These new higher speed models also have an automatic intelligent media sensor that can detect media weight and automatically make the correct media setting, which can reduce misfeeds and help optimize print quality. This additional feature, unique to Konica Minolta solutions technology, provides uninterrupted use, increasing productivity, unmatched in the office print market.

  34. Konica Minolta to Globally Release Dispatcher Suite, a Print Management and Advanced Scan Workflow Solution

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    Tokyo (January 10, 2019) – Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) will globally release Dispatcher Suite, software developed by Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., an affiliated company in the U.S. , in partnership with Y Soft Corporation.

    Overview
    Dispatcher Suite is a software package that consists of Dispatcher Paragon, an integrated print management solution, and Dispatcher Phoenix, an award-winning process automation application.
    This new software suite is an integrated print management and process automation solution that was independently developed by Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., which operates in IT-advanced countries, and by Y Soft, in order to identify and solve print and process issues for its customers.
    Dispatcher Suite will be released after January 2019 in the U.S., Europe, and other countries.

    Value Proposition
    Office workers are engaged in complicated manual tasks such as collecting, inputting, processing, saving, and distributing files in their daily operations. Dispatcher Suite helps automate routine tasks.
    Specifically, these tasks can be automated by clicking buttons that are customized for automation.

    Dispatcher Suite also helps ID authentication management of printing and scanning at an office, as well as aggregation and management of status data to enhance security, improve workflow productivity, and cut expenses. It is an integrated solution offering single sign on and the same “look and feel” at the MFP for both print management and advanced scanning capabilities.

    Features of Dispatcher Suite
    1. Automation of document processing and sorting by Dispatcher Phoenix
    Dispatcher Phoenix efficiently automates the processing of documents created in daily operations at an office. For example, when a contract is scanned by an all-in-one (to create an electronic file), it can be automatically converted to text data using OCR. Attributes can be automatically assigned to a file, which is then automatically sorted and stored in a designated folder based on the attributes. Dispatcher Phoenix was nominated as a finalist in the IT Software category of the World Technology Awards under the auspices of the World Technology Network (WTN) in the U.S.

    2. Print management function achieved by Dispatcher Paragon
    A printing environment suitable for tasks can be managed. For example, a printing policy for cost reduction can be created. When printing email documents, an optimal printing environment such as black-and-white double-sided printing can be created and managed.
    Leakage of confidential information can be audited by monitoring overall user trends based on tracking and analysis of user, division, or place.

    3. Security measures offered by Dispatcher Paragon
    The use of all-in-ones and printers at an office can be managed using the user information managed by a server by linking the IC card information used in employee IDs with Active Directory® and LDAP.
    Dispatcher Paragon also supports two-factor authentication systems using “an IC card and a PIN code” or “an IC card and a password.” Users are required to hold a card over a reader when printing a document. This helps prevent information leakage due to a failure to take a printed document

    4. Flexible system configuration
    Centralized management can be ensured for single-site operation, multiple environments in and outside a country, or even a large-scale environment. The solution also supports cloud-based system configurations such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS. Respective customers can introduce an optimal system for their office environment.

    Under the brand proposition “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta remains committed to creating new value through offering services that integrate IT with document management from the viewpoint of customers.

  35. Konica Minolta Earns Honor with the U-Bix 480 Certified as a Copying Machine Heritage

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    Tokyo (November 28, 2018) – Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) is pleased to announce that the U-Bix 480, which was Japan’s first indirect dry type electrophotographic copying machine, manufactured using domestic technology by Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd., a former company of Konica Minolta, was certified as a “Copying Machine Heritage” established by the Imaging Society of Japan (ISJ).

    The U-Bix 480, the first PPC copying machine (plain paper copying machine) of Konishiroku Photo Industry, was introduced at a business show in 1970 and released in January 1971. The machine was a sensation because it was Japan’s first indirect dry type electrophotographic copying machine using domestic technology and produced beautiful, fine images at half the copying cost of conventional machines. The copying machine was so popular that Konishiroku Photo Industry struggled to keep up with production. Since then, copying machines have been one of Konica Minolta’s leading products along with cameras and films.

    The ISJ’s high recognition of the U-Bix 480 manufactured about 50 years ago as a historically valuable technology and product is an encouragement to Konica Minolta, which is determined to keep creating products and services that offer new values to customers and society through the ongoing digital transformation.

  36. Konica Minolta named finalist for 2017 World Technology Awards

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    TOKYO (March 6, 2018) – Konica Minolta, Inc. is pleased to announce that its Dispatcher Phoenix document distribution solution was named a 2017 World Technology Awards finalist in the IT Software category by the World Technology Network (WTN). The solution optimizes customers’ existing document management systems, and it was developed by Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.

    The World Technology Awards brings together the most innovative people and organizations in science and technology from around the world, exploring what is imminent, possible, and important in and around emerging technologies.

  37. Konica Minolta To Unveil New MarketPlace

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    Konica Minolta Inc. has unveiled a new version of MarketPlace for users across the globe, which offers apps and licenses to “transform the way work gets done.”

    The new Konica Minolta MarketPlace, which was formerly the bizhub MarketPlace, offers a platform for applications, customisation tools, and device management features. It makes available a variety of cloud, scan, productivity, information and security apps, allowing users of the MarketPlace to increase the power of their Konica Minolta MFPs quickly and easily, and helps them meet the challenges of everyday business.

    Using the MarketPlace, users can quickly create customed-designed MFP User Interfaces, which can be tailored to only display the most-necessary functions, as well as including particular colours, company logos and corporate backgrounds.

    The Konica Minolta MarketPlace boasts a new layout and a cleaner, more streamlined interface to make it easier for users to navigate, and to find and purchase apps. Apps can be searched, sorted and filtered based on category or keyword, and a simplified account creation system allows first-time users speedy access to all that is available.

    Furthermore, installation processes have been optimised, online help has become more accessible, and the MarketPlace can support greater product variety with additional pricing capabilities.

    Manuel Couceiro, Vice President of Konica Minolta’s Solutions Engineering Centre, said: “The new Konica Minolta MarketPlace is not just a change in brand name, but a significant evolution of this key platform, including a more modern, streamlined look-and-feel, a simplified user experience, and advanced features. This new platform is in line with the future-ready goals and unified direction of our company as we continue to create a better workplace for today and tomorrow.”

  38. Alpine and Konica Minolta to Start a Joint Development on the 3D Augmented Reality Head-up Display for Automotive Use

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    Tokyo (November 16, 2017) – Alpine Electronics, Inc. (Alpine) and Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced a joint development on the head-up display (HUD) applying the 3D augmented reality (AR)technology for automotive use.

    The joint development aims to enhance the innovative 3D AR HUD technology which was originally developed by Konica Minolta as the world’s first* in January 2017. The companies will work together on further advancements in technology suitable for mass production in fiscal 2021.

    * As a technology that displays images on a windshield three dimensionally by projecting multiple images simultaneously at multiple distances from a driver without sensing the driver’s eye position (research by Konica Minolta)

    Recently, the HUD’s adoption in vehicles has been accelerating to serve more desired functions as an important human-machine interface (HMI) tool to indicate the drivers many kinds of information such as road conditions and dangerous obstacles.

    Utilizing the 3D AR technology in the HUD enables information to be overlaid simultaneously and individually on multiple objects such as pedestrians and obstacles to the exact distance and precisely in focus. It can also display information at an adequate distance depending on the driving speed and the driver’s view. The 3D AR HUD will help transform safe driving with ease and comfort in addition to higher level of safety.

    Konica Minolta’s 3D AR HUD forefront technologies including optics, high-precision machining, performance material, image processing and Alpine’s product development, manufacturing expertise in the automotive field along with its HMI technologies will complement each other in this joint development. Leveraging the 3D AR breakthrough, it will have a profound impact on evolution of the high-performance HUD to achieve the automotive industry’s highest level in safety, security, comfort and convenience for drivers.

  39. Konica Minolta Acquires Muratec

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    08/01/2017 Ramsey, NJ – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) has acquired Muratec America, Inc., a leading supplier of multifunction (MFP) solutions and a provider of managed document and cloud services in North America. The acquisition, which closes today, will strengthen the company’s distribution network and further advance Konica Minolta’s leading position within the industry.

     

    Muratec is well-positioned and has shown steady growth over the years, both in solutions and services sectors. The company has built a strong portfolio due to their technical expertise and innovative, problem-solving approach.

     

    As a wholly-owned, consolidated subsidiary of Konica Minolta, Muratec America, Inc. will continue to deliver its high quality sales and maintenance business and will operate under the leadership of President, Jim D’Emidio.

     

    “Historically we’ve had a mutual and complementary product lineup with Muratec making this acquisition a great platform to create new synergies together,” said Rick Taylor, President and CEO, Konica Minolta. “The fact that the fundamentals of both of these companies align and we both strive to be the best in every region, makes this a perfect fit.”

     

    “Muratec and Konica Minolta have had a very close relationship for many years,” stated Jim D’Emidio, President, Muratec. “With the strength of Konica Minolta, I am confident we will achieve even more significant growth and provide stronger support to our customers.”

     

    This is Konica Minolta Business Solutions’ 30th acquisition in the past five years. With over 8,000 employees in the U.S., it is part of Konica Minolta Inc., a global technology company.

     

  40. Konica Minolta and SCREEN GA Enhance Collaboration in the Digital Commercial Printing Area

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    Tokyo (July 5, 2017) – Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) and SCREEN Graphic Solutions Co., Ltd. (SCREEN GA) have enhanced collaboration in the digital commercial printing area to achieve seamless hybrid workflows and increase user-friendliness in offset printing and digital printing. The two companies will further improve efficiency, expand business opportunities, and deliver new value in the commercial printing industry.

    Details of Enhanced Collaboration and Value Proposition

    In the commercial printing industry, digital printing equipment is being increasingly introduced due to growing demand for high-mix small-lot printing to meet the diverse needs of consumers. In some cases, users cannot take full advantage of the equipment because the CTP workflow RIPs for offset printing – the core of workflow systems – cannot fully control the equipment.

    Konica Minolta and SCREEN GA have enhanced data exchange in the Job Definition Format (JDF)*1 between the EQUIOS universal workflow*2 systems offered by SCREEN GA and the Accurio inkjet and toner digital presses offered by Konica Minolta. This enhanced data exchange enables users to directly perform digital printing from the EQUIOS, achieving seamless operation that encompasses color management and finishing. This solution increases commercial printing efficiency in a production environment and offers new business opportunities by taking full advantage of on-demand printing.

    Background to the Enhanced Collaboration

    Konica Minolta has a competitive edge in variable digital presses, and aims to further open up the market in the digital commercial printing area. SCREEN GA offers an extensive lineup of high-speed variable digital presses and CTP systems, and has a competitive edge in integrated workflow systems combining CTP systems with digital presses to automate the printing process and eliminate the need for skilled users.

    The two companies will enhance collaboration to further improve the value proposition for customers of the respective companies based on an open partner strategy through which each company further enhances its own competitive edge while utilizing the other’s technologies and assets.

    Toshimitsu Taiko, Executive Officer, General Manager, Professional Print Business Headquarters, Konica Minolta, Inc. said, “Konica Minolta aims to become a high-value-added solution provider by identifying customers’ issues, making proposals, and helping customers solve the issues. In the digital commercial printing area, Konica Minolta will take full advantage of its technologies and assets, including the Accurio series, through open collaboration with its partners to value innovation and value creation according to the business types and categories of its customers.”

    Toru Kawada, Corporate Officer, Division Head, Business Development Division, SCREEN Graphic Solutions Co., Ltd. said, “SCREEN GA has continuously improved the EQUIOS universal workflow systems that combine CTP workflow systems with cutting-edge inkjet printing technologies. To meet diversifying printing needs, SCREEN GA will promote automation of the printing process and offer a solution environment that creates customer value by using the EQUIOS as the solution platform or as the core system for efficiently using offset presses and digital presses.”

  41. Konica Minolta launches a new bizhub MarketPlace, accelerating customers’ business by expanding MFP functionality

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    Tokyo (January 17, 2017) – Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) announced that Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. and Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH are launching a new and enhanced version of the bizhub MarketPlace platform to accommodate the global market, in U.S.A. and Europe, adding a variety of applications and helpful features. The bizhub MarketPlace allows MFP’s functionalities to be enhanced by easily adding functions that are required to meet challenges of everyday businesses. The platform will be available throughout U.S.A. and Europe from January 2017.

    Konica Minolta assists customers in maximising their productivity by offering more flexibility in adapting devices to everyday routines. The bizhub MarketPlace platform allows the functionality of Konica Minolta’s multifunctional products to be easily enhanced by adding apps to the devices without the need to buy expensive software.

    Quick access and easy set-up

    The possibility to connect to services such as OneDrive, Google Drive or SharePoint provides quick access to documents with the benefit of secure processes and state-of-the-art technology. In order to keep maintenance costs low and productivity high, the initial set-up as well as updates and additional apps are deployed remotely. Since the devices are centrally managed, all applications are kept up-to-date automatically with no extra charges.

    Personalised MFP

    As an additional service, the bizhub MarketPlace offers customers the possibility to get a personalised MFP user interface with an individual design and features, which fit within specific workflows and corporate design guidelines. Konica Minolta’s customisation services include consultancy, design and guidance through the individual features and workflows that can be made available on the display of the bizhub. Similar to additional apps or updates, customised user interfaces are deployed remotely, which benefits major enterprises with many staff.

    Perfectly suited for every customer’s needs

    The bizhub MarketPlace offers benefits for businesses of all sizes. One of the biggest advantages is that with the bizhub MarketPlace, the MFP adapts to the customer’s working behaviour, and not the other way around. The large variety of apps makes it simple to streamline the workflow, while saving time and costs, which essentially means more time for the core business.

    bizhub MarketPlace (U.S.A) Recognized for Outstanding MFP App Ecosystem by BLI Pick Awards Winter 2017

    This new version for global market is based on current bizhub MarketPlace developed in U.S.A., which has recently been honored with a prestigious Pick award for “Outstanding MFP App Ecosystem” from the analysts at Buyers Laboratory, Inc. (BLI). This award is the recognition of Konica Minolta’s software commitment to providing the industry with innovative solutions for ready-to-use business applications.

  42. Konica Minolta Opens a Strategic Business Base in France to Strengthen Its Industrial Printing Business

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    Tokyo (November 7, 2016) – Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced that it has opened a strategic business base in France to facilitate the growth of its industrial printing business.
    Established as part of a global management strategy, this is Konica Minolta’s first overseas business base in its core business area, where the company will formulate medium- and long-term strategies to strengthen its industrial printing business by evaluating customer value propositions.

    Aiming for workflow transformation in industrial printing

    Konica Minolta is determined to evolve into a problem solving digital company capable of faciliating workflow transformation with its digital technologies to deliver greater convenience and higher productivity to customers’ work processes. The market size of industrial printing, including labels, packaging and textiles, is estimated at 50 trillion yen, which means there is a huge growth potential in the digital printing business. Also, needs for digital printing are increasing as more and more companies turn to marketing strategies that motivate customers to buy using exclusive label and packaging designs.

    Konica Minolta aims to deliver new value to the industrial printing industry and expand its digital printing business by leveraging its digital technologies to meet the need for high-mix small-lot production and shorter lead time, and also by offering solutions to enhance efficiency of printing operations.

    Developing business in Europe, the center of the industrial printing business, in a customer-centric manner

    With a concentration of leading-edge industrial printing companies and manufacturers of related equipment, Europe deserves to be called a global trendsetter in the industrial printing business. With a business base in Europe, the center of the global industrial printing market, Konica Minolta aims to accelerate the development of solutions for industrial printing through a cyclic process of creating new customer values and business models and then evaluating the values and business models jointly with customers. This customer-centric cyclic process, which Konica Minolta has employed as its original framework to evaluate customer values, has been making meaningful contributions to the company’s business and technical development in recent years.

    In the label and packaging printing industry, digitalized high-mix small-lot production is also expected to largely enhance the efficiency of the post-press process of varnishing, laminating, foil stamping, and die cutting. Konica Minolta will seek opportunities to accelerate open innovation in this field through its existing alliance with MGI Digital Technology (MGI), a leading high value-added digital printing equipment* manufacturer based in France, and also by strengthening partnerships with a number of post-press equipment manufacturers in Europe.

    In addition, Europe is main ragion of the world’s digital textile printing market as well as Asia, and leads the world in the digitization in printing of wall paper and construction materials. While Konica Minolta has been offering inkjet digital textile printers and inkjet printheads to the European market, the company is confident it can develop new solutions for workflow transformation by being closer to the market.

    Expanding business in the industrial printing area to achieve a huge growth

    Since launching high-quality, compact production print systems with low capital investment cost in 2003, Konica Minolta has largely expanded the digital printing market in the areas of commercial printing and in-house printing. For over a decade since then, Konica Minolta has created a digital commercial printing market and expanded the scope and range of its business activities, while developing print systems for various usage (from light to heavy) focusing on color printers. As a result, the company has increased the size of its production print business more than fivefold. In this process, Konica Minolta has implemented its own unique measures to strengthen the commercial and industrial printing business ahead of its competitors in the industry. These measures include applying its prowess in inkjet technology to the production print area, launching the Marketing Production Management (MPM) service that helps customers improve the printing process and supports planning and production of high value-added printed materials tailored to specific purposes such as sales promotion, entering into a financial and strategic alliance with MGI, acquiring additional stake in MGI and consolidating the financial results of MGI.
    Under its Mid-term Business Strategy, Konica Minolta plans to expand its business by offering new solutions in industrial printing as well as value-added services in commercial printing to achieve its target to increase the total revenue in the production print business to 360 billion yen in fiscal 2020. Especially in the label and packaging markets, various and small-lot production has become available at an accelerated pace. Placing importance on the label and packaging markets that are likely to continue to steadily grow in the future, Konica Minolta has already prepared itself to cater to the needs of this promising market with the official launch of the bizhub PRESS C71cf on-demand label printer and the AccurioJet KM-1 B2 digital inkjet press, as well as by entering into a financial and strategic alliance with MGI.

  43. Konica Minolta Awarded RobecoSAM Gold Class: Leading the Sector for Environmental & Economic Dimensions Including Innovation Management

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    Tokyo (February 19, 2015) – Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) has been awarded RobecoSAM Gold Class, a global distinction for corporate sustainability.

    RobecoSAM, based in Switzerland, is the investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing. RobecoSAM invites over 3,000 of the world’s largest companies to participate in the Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Results are analyzed in terms of economic, environmental and social issues with a focus on long-term value creation. Recently RobecoSAM has released its annual “Sustainability Yearbook 2015” in which 69 companies are ranked as Gold Class. Five Japanese companies including Konica Minolta are awarded Gold Class. Among the Computers & Peripherals and Office Electronics sector, Konica Minolta is the only Japanese company as Gold Class.

    In this year’s assessment, Konica Minolta has earned the highest evaluation in the Computers & Peripherals and Office Electronics sector for its economic initiatives including innovation management and risk management, as well as for environmental initiatives on climate change strategies, environmental policy and its management.

    Globally, institutional investors have been paying close attention not only to financial indices but also to environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts and policies in evaluating corporations’ long-term and sustainable value creation. Socially responsible investment (SRI) assessment companies provides those institutional investors with company ratings based on ESG researches.

    Based on its management vision to become “a global company that is vital to the society” and “an innovative company that is robust and constantly evolving,” Konica Minolta aims to both meet its social responsibilities and build on its competitive edges. The Konica Minolta Group has selected issues, such as environmental challenges, that are very important to society and have a great impact on its businesses, and internationally drives CSR initiatives embedded in the businesses by utilizing its proprietary technologies and long-fostered know-how. The comprehensive management system and activities have been highly appraised.

    Under the brand proposition “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta will continue developing innovative ideas and ability to put those ideas into practice toward creation of new values that contribute to solve issues in the global society through its business-integrated CSR activities.

  44. Konica Minolta Awarded “Prime” Status by Oekom Research for Corporate Social Responsibility

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    Tokyo (February 24, 2015) – Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) is pleased to announce that the company has been awarded Prime Status by the Germany-based oekom research AG (oekom) in its 2015 Corporate Rating as one of global leading companies for corporate social responsibility within the industry segment of electronic device and appliance. The company has maintained Prime Status for five years since 2011.

    Known as one of the world’s leading rating agencies for its internationally-acclaimed researches in sustainable investment and sustainability ratings, oekom has been evaluating companies around the world through its original Corporate Rating with a comprehensive set of criteria in terms of social and environmental measures. A company is given Prime Status if it ranks among the best companies in the same industry segment in the overall rating.

    In this assessment, Konica Minolta earned the highest evaluation for eco-efficiency. The company was also highly appraised in the following perspectives:

    • Global medium-term environmental plan and promotion of diverse initiatives with the goals of both environmental impact reduction and increase in corporate value;
    • Efforts to minimize material use, including utilization of recycled materials through its proprietary technologies;
    • Advanced implantation of chemical substance management; and
    • Stringent response to evolving environmental standards

    Based on its management vision to become “a global company that is vital to the society” and “an innovative company that is robust and constantly evolving,” Konica Minolta aims to both meet its social responsibilities and build on its competitive edges. The Konica Minolta Group has selected issues, such as environmental challenges, that are very important to society and have a great impact on its businesses and internationally drive CSR initiatives embedded in the businesses by utilizing its proprietary technologies and long-fostered know-how. The comprehensive management system and activities have been highly appraised.

    Besides the oekom Prime Status, Konica Minolta has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for three years in a row, in the FTSE4Good Global Index by the FTSE Group in the UK for twelve years and the Japan-based Morningstar Socially Responsible Investment Index. The company has also been awarded RobecoSAM Gold Class. In addition, in 2014 Konica Minolta was selected by CDP for inclusion in both its global Climate Change Performance Leadership Index and Japan 500 Climate Change Disclosure Leadership Index.

    Under the brand proposition “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta will continue developing innovative ideas and ability to put those ideas into practice toward creation of new values that contribute to solve issues in the global society through its business-integrated CSR activities.

    For additional information about Konica Minolta’s CSR initiatives, please visit

  45. Konica Minolta Builds Up Global MPM Service Structure

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    Tokyo (March 27, 2015) – Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced that it has built up a global structure for its Marketing Print Management (MPM) services by adding the U.S. and Japan to the existing business areas of Europe and Asia Pacific. Konica Minolta has been providing its MPM services to marketing divisions of major global corporations. Specialists from Konica Minolta are stationed at the clients’ offices to work on print production of promotional materials and run centralized management on the contents, process, quality and delivery. Through these initiatives, Konica Minolta helps the clients optimize their return on investment, and thereby contribute to revenue increase and brand enhancement of the clients. While Konica Minolta has been highly appraised and well accepted by the customers for the initiatives and the effectiveness, there are strong demands for making MPM services available in regions such as the U.S. and Japan where the clients run operations in addition to Europe and Asia Pacific. With the establishment of subsidiaries and launching operations in the U.S. and Japan, Konica Minolta has instituted an enhanced structure to provide MPM services on a global scale, covering Europe, the U.S., Japan and Asia Pacific. That enables Konica Minolta to deliver its MPM services, with the same standards and quality, to markets and regions which account for the most part of the sales at major global corporations. Going forward, the new global network will focus on MPM services, while sharing across borders know-how in Marketing Management Service (MMS), originating from Europe, to expand it into other regions and establish itself as valuable marketing partner for global corporations. In addition, Konica Minolta will communicate to print suppliers in each region about high versatility and convenience of digital printing systems in the printing production of many materials in small quantities for marketing activities. Taking advantage of those benefits, Konica Minolta will offer total solution proposals such as overall streamlining in printing production, including output process management and distribution, and communication support services that strengthen relationships between the clients and their customers. MPM Provider Companies graphic Under the brand proposition “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta is enhancing the corporate value of its entire group by turning new ideas into solutions and services around the globe with high added value that meet market needs while raising the level of customer satisfaction.

  46. Konica Minolta Clover Announce Toner Partnership

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    RAMSEY, NJ – April 2015 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions, one of the world’s leaders in information management focused on enterprise content, technology optimization and cloud service, and Clover, the global leader in the recovery, refurbishment, remanufacturing and redeployment of business and electronic assets, announced today a partnership that will make Clover a strategic toner supplier for Konica Minolta.

    The partnership represents an expansion of the existing relationship between the two companies to deliver greater value and service to Konica Minolta customers.

    “The partnership with Clover fits our ongoing commitment to provide our customers with the best products and services available to meet their needs,” said Sam Errigo, Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence Services. “Clover is a leader in the toner industry and provides a perfect complement to our current offerings. Our customers will benefit from an expanded selection of premium quality products and increased availability.”

    Clover sells more remanufactured toner and inkjet cartridges than anyone else in the industry. With six strategically-located distribution centers, Clover is able to provide ground shipping to 95% of the country in one to two days.

    “We have had a working relationship with Konica Minolta for many years and we look forward to the new opportunities this strengthened partnership brings,” said Eric Martin, president of North American Sales for Clover. “Our unparalleled global footprint and manufacturing and engineering strength are unique in the industry and enable us to offer a diverse line of products while bringing new products to market faster than our competitors.”

    About Clover

    Founded in 1996, Clover is the leading printer cartridge remanufacturer in the world, as well as the leading empty cartridge collector worldwide with over 1.2 billion in annual revenue and over 60 locations worldwide. Clover has been providing the most recognizable OEM alternative brands to the world’s largest office supplies retailers, corporate solutions providers and other OEMs for nearly two decades. The complete line of Clover’s quality toner and ink is available through leading office products distributors and resellers and marketed under a variety of private label brands. In 2015 Clover created a comprehensive marketing umbrella called the Clover Imaging Group that unites all of its imaging assets under one roof bringing the market the most comprehensive suite of products, solutions, and collections programs to the global market. The combined power of this group will bring customers of the Clover Imaging Group unparalleled value and create a new benchmark for partnership in the imaging space. To learn more, visit www.clovertech.com.

  47. Konica Minolta Builds Momentum and Strategic Growth with SymQuest Group Acquisition

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    Ramsey, NJ – June 2, 2015 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc., a leader in information management focused on enterprise content, technology optimization and cloud services today announced the acquisition of SymQuest Group.

    The acquisition accelerates Konica Minolta’s rapid growth with an increased presence in targeted geographic markets. As part of the agreement, SymQuest Group’s headquarters will remain in South Burlington, Vermont and Westbrook, Maine, and will retain its 186 employees throughout various branch offices and data centers.

    As a wholly owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Business Solutions, SymQuest Group will continue to deliver innovative, high quality solutions in office automation and operate under the leadership of co-founder Larry Sudbay.

    “The SymQuest Group’s business model with a mix of office document and IT services is a perfect fit for us,” says Rick Taylor, President and COO, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. “We are receiving incredible talent and technology which fits both our market coverage and transformation directions. This is an exciting opportunity to help their customers bring their businesses to the next level.”

    SymQuest Group’s customers will have access to Konica Minolta’s award-winning line up of products, applications, and services, including the All Covered IT division which offers a range of IT strategy, support, project and cloud computing solutions across all verticals. Ultimately, these enhanced capabilities will enable customers to experience faster and more efficient deliverables.

    “As we examined the strategic options to accelerate our growth, we felt that partnering with Konica Minolta offered the best opportunity for our customers and employees,” says Larry Sudbay, President of SymQuest Group. “With its investment in both people and technology we will be able to expand our offerings and provide our clients with new services to enhance their productivity.”

    SymQuest Group has a 20 year record of success and a national reputation for service excellence and innovation. This is Konica Minolta Business Solutions’ 20th acquisition in the last four years. With 8,000 employees, it is part of Konica Minolta Inc., a world leading global technology company investing more than $500 million annually in research and development.

  48. Konica Minolta Business Solutions Introduces Mobile Printing Technology Services

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    Ramsey, NJ – July 2015 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in information management focused on enterprise content, technology optimization and cloud services, today introduces two new services that bolster mobile printing capabilities and control over the devices accessing company data, effectively addressing challenges related to “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) trends affecting all business environments.

    EveryonePrint

    EveryonePrint makes its debut to the United States market. This secure printing solution allows users to easily print to any desired printer on a business’s network. It can be installed as an on-premise or private cloud solution, and there’s no need for a mobile device to be added to a domain or to download print drivers. Whether in a small business or a global enterprise corporation, EveryonePrint provides a host of benefits, including:

    • Authentication via Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) or Active Directory (to ensure only authorized users can print)
    • End-to-end encryption of print jobs
    • Secure release of print jobs
    • IT administration full customization via a simple user interface
    • Integration with any printing infrastructure, from printers and mobile devices to third-party print accounting solutions

    EveryonePrint is available in four versions:

    • Standalone – A per printer license that offers printing from an unlimited number of mobile devices to a single printer.
    • Connect – Available as a per-server license. It offers the same functionality as the Standalone version, plus the ability to integrate with a variety of print accounting solutions such as Equitrac. This version is ideal for small to medium educational institutions and customers with simple networks.
    • Professional – Also available as a per-server license with the same general functionality as Connect, but includes Wide Area printing, which allows users to use AirPrint across complex networks. Bundled with an MS Office conversion engine for printing MS Office documents without the need to install Office on the EveryonePrint server. This version is recommended for a wide pool of customers, including small- to mid-sized businesses and corporate enterprise environments, as well as government, education, healthcare and financial verticals.
    • Enterprise – Available as a site license with an unlimited amount of server and printer licenses. This version offers the same functionality as the professional version and is recommended for all large enterprise and/or global accounts.

    All versions provide users with five ways to print:

    • Web – Users can upload documents via a web portal for printing.
    • Email – Users send documents to print from any email enabled device.
    • Google Cloud – Users can print using the native printing capabilities of an Android device.
    • AirPrint – Users can print using the native printing capabilities of an iOS device.
    • Driver – Users print directly from programs and applications installed on laptops and notebooks to any printer available in EveryonePrint. This is done via a generic print driver.

    All Covered’s Mobile Management Services

    Organizations that allow mobile users to connect to their networks and access sensitive data must have a firm control over the devices that are connecting. All Covered helps them do that with its comprehensive suite of Mobile Management Services that make it possible for organizations to monitor the mobile devices connecting to their systems and accessing corporate data. These services allow organizations to ensure that mobile devices connected to their network have access to the right resources with the right security in place, regardless of whether they are company or employee owned. They automatically enforce the separation of business data and personal data, while keeping both equally accessible for employees and other users.

    All Covered’s mobile solution encompasses access control, monitoring, application management and data protection. These features can be automatically enforced, making sure a company, its customers and its staff are protected from security breaches and other risks while helping organizations to comply with industry regulations.

    All Covered’s Mobile Management Services can empower organizations to:

    • Enable secure access to corporate resources to empower your workforce
    • Control enrollment of new devices to protect data on numerous mobile platforms
    • Manage corporate and employee-owned devices for maximum flexibility and security
    • Gain insight into mobile device usage to protect from hidden threats

    “With these two introductions today, Konica Minolta continues to focus on enhancing the mobile user experience, that ever-growing ‘Bring Your Own Device’ – or BYOD – trend that is changing the way information technology is managed and drastically changing the way we work,” said Sam Errigo, Senior Vice President of Business Intelligence Services for Konica Minolta Business Solutions, USA, Inc. “It’s very exciting for us to be the first manufacturer to now bring EveryonePrint to the United States market along with All Covered’s mobile management – two services that truly complement each other, providing for a safe, effective mobile environment for all involved.”

  49. Konica Minolta Unveils New Inkjet Printheads with Increased Resolution and Print Speed, Along with Compatibility with Wide Range of Inks: Mass Production to Start in Spring 2016

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    Tokyo (July 23, 2015) – Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced that it has developed three new industrial inkjet printheads that adopt its independently developed MEMS technologies. The mass production is planned to start in the spring of 2016. The new inkjet printheads deliver higher resolution, higher accuracy and more enhanced jet characteristics than the existing printheads, while Konica Minolta’s independently developed MEMS technologies have realized the compact size and compatibility with a wide range of inks. With the introduction of these new products, Konica Minolta meets the market’s needs for higher performance inkjet printheads and will contribute to further growth of the printer market and development of new industrial inkjet applications.

    Major Features

    High-density Nozzle Array Head Konica Minolta’s independently developed MEMS technologies have enabled 1024 nozzles to be arrayed three-dimensionally in high density. Furthermore, the company’s proprietary robust design has realized both high-resolution and high-accuracy inkjet printheads. Improved Ink Resistance and Wide Viscosity Correspondency for Every Industrial Ink Based on Konica Minolta’s long-fostered material technologies and highly heat-resistant design, the new printheads have improved resistance with inks, ranging from low-viscosity inks (aqueous inks) to high-viscosity inks (including UV inks and solvent inks), and compatible with every industrial ink. Good for Use in Commercial Printing and Label Printing with Requirements for Higher Definition, Along with Printed Electronics (PE) As the new printheads can print with higher resolution than existing products, they have improved applicability to commercial printing and label printing which require higher definition. They can also be used for PE and other applications that need higher jetting accuracy. Ideal to Design High-resolution and Compact Printers As the nozzle integration has made the printheads very compact, they can help printer manufacturers design high-resolution and compact printers. Inkjet Printheads specifications

    Konica Minolta’s Inkjet Development and Production Technologies

    Konica Minolta has been on the research and development of industrial inkjet technologies for more than 30 years since the infancy stage of the inkjet industry. While accumulating technological advancement, the company has spearheaded in understanding and meeting the market needs. With its expertise and competitive edges in the development and production for all of the ink, printhead and printer, the three key elements of inkjet printers, Konica Minolta has established robust design technologies to satisfy technical requirements of inks and printers. In addition, the company has developed not only MEMS process technology, which is important and essential to design and manufacture MEMS printheads, and inkjet printhead design technologies but also Robotic Assembling System, a new production technology for mass production. Industrial inkjet has been rapidly expanding its scope of applications, ranging from commercial and graphic printing to digital textile printing, ceramic printing and PE, among others. For further growth of the market, it has become essential to address technical challenges such as higher resolution, improved image quality, higher speed, enhanced durability and compatibility with a wider variety of inks. With such market and technological backdrop, Konica Minolta has moved to develop the new industrial inkjet printheads. Going forward, under the brand proposition “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta will develop highly value-added inkjet products based on its proprietary technology, contribute to expansion of industrial-use inkjet technology applications and the market development, and aims to be a company that is vital to society.

  50. Konica Minolta Targets Small and Mid-Sized Offices with Cost Efficient bizhubs

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    Ramsey, NJ – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in information management focused on enterprise content, technology optimization and cloud services, announced today the launch of four new multi-function products (MFPs) intended for small and mid-sized offices and departmental use. These new products, which include the bizhub 287, bizhub 227, bizhub C368, and bizhub C308, can easily adapt to tackle diverse work styles, including standard web browser and Open API support to connect to specialized applications and easy access to mobile connectivity.

    The featured mobile connectivity supports a wide range of devices, including smartphones and tablets that are NFC (Near Field Communication) capable. Konica Minolta’s award-winning INFO-Palette control panel design rounds out the package for a unified user experience across our office product line.

    bizhub 287 & bizhub 227

    Both of these monochrome MFPs are exceptionally cost efficient, bridging the gap between Compact (A4) MFPs and traditional mid-volume office MFPs. The bizhub 287, a 28 ppm machine, and the bizhub 227, which runs at 22 ppm, have many eco-friendly attributes that differentiate them from other products. These features include:

    • Low energy consumption
    • Use of recycled materials in the manufacturing of the machine
    • Energy Star and EPEAT certifications

    bizhub C368 & bizhub C308

    The robust feature set and outstanding color output quality of these new color MFPs are only the beginning of the story. The new bizhub C368, a 36 ppm machine, and the bizhub C308, a 30 ppm machine, offer innovative solutions to address a wide range of customer needs. Newly added functions include a mobile connectivity area built into the control panel, detachable universal trays and a hard disk mirroring option. The C368 and C308 also feature:

    • Standard web browser
    • Open API
    • 9” control panel featuring a mobile touch area with support for NFC (Near Field Communication)
    • Optional Fiery controller

    “With today’s new product launches, Konica Minolta continues its legacy of developing great products and offering a new level of efficiency and flexibility,” says Kevin P. Kern, senior vice president, Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. “Konica Minolta continues to demonstrate its commitment to provide new tools that will empower our clients and optimize their workflow, the implementation of our next generation system architecture with standard browser functionality.” 

    Republished with permission from Buyers Laboratory LLC (www.buyerslab.com). ©2013 Buyers Laboratory LLC

  51. Konica Minolta Launches New Light Production Monochrome Print System bizhub® PRO 1100

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    Ramsey, NJ – February 25th, 2016 – Demonstrating the company’s commitment to developing new technologies that help production printers produce high quality with the flexibility they need, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is pleased to announce the bizhub PRO 1100. With a rated output of 100-pages per minute and high performance image capture, the bizhub PRO 1100 meets the needs of central in-house printing facilities, external print-for-pay services and vertical markets including legal, education, and government.

    The bizhub PRO 1100 operation panel has been unified with the bizhub color production print machines to improve operability and usability. With this, the bizhub PRO 1100 has many new workflow options including:

    • Adoption of Job Centro/Color Centro pairs up job management and work flow with the color production products including job ticketing editing functions for color machines.
    • Adoption of controller hot folders.
    • Standard dual-color scanner provides high-speed, simultaneous double-sided color scanning up to 180-opm. Image stabilization technology – equipped with the density balance and gamma correction functions providing improved image quality, more stable production of printed materials and also minimizes disparities in quality between different machines.
    • New additional options help to boost operability while reducing initial introduction costs.
    • Expansion options for solution applications.

    Sustainability

    bizhub PRO 1100 meets a Gold level rating in Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), an environmental assessment system. It has also cleared standard Typical Energy Consumption values for Version 2.0 of the International Energy Star Program by a substantial margin.

    “The affordable and powerful bizhub PRO 1100 offers smart features, excellent productivity, durability, halftone quality with the flexibility our customers need,” says Kevin Kern, senior vice president, Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc. “With a wide range of workflow and finishing options the bizhub PRO 1100 is well suited to meet the needs of in house print facilities, specialized vertical market applications and print for pay markets.”

  52. Konica Minolta Brings New Functionality to Mobile through EveryonePrint Version 4.0

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    Ramsey, NJ – March 3, 2016 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. Inc., (Konica Minolta) is excited to announce the offering of the next major upgrade of the EveryonePrint (EOP) mobile print software solution, version 4.0. The solution provides organizations of all sizes — including universities, educational institutions and corporations worldwide — the ability to print from their notebooks or mobile devices with ease. In addition, a bEST certified App is available for secure release of print jobs from any bizhub® control panel. 

    Easy to install and operate with full IT Administrator control, EOP has BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) compatibility, secure private cloud/on-premise mobile printing, and simple licensing with unlimited mobile device users. 4.0 is the only enterprise mobile print solution with the ability to install on Linux Enterprise and IBM System z mainframes.

    The fourth generation software develops and expands on the usability, high security and functionality associated with EveryonePrint. It includes significant new features and server clustering for high availability and integration with leading EMM/MDM solutions (Enterprise Mobility Management/Mobile Device Management) as well as new and improved apps for iOS, Android and Windows Phone 8. Compatible with any printing infrastructure, EOP offers five different ways to print, including: e-mail, web, driver, Android and AirPrint for native printing from mobile devices. 

    New features and enhancements in version 4.0 include:

    • Expanded capabilities to have highly available and highly scalable services, with new clustering and load balancing features — no upper limit on user or printer numbers
    • Supports three of the leading MDM solutions; AirWatch, Good Technology and MobileIron
    • Support for printing from Windows phone devices using a newly developed specialized App
    • Redesigned and improved Apple iOS and Android Apps

    “Mobility is driving the need to provide secure mobile printing solutions that are compatible with BYOD policies and are easy to use and manage,” says Kevin Kern, senior vice president, Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc. “From day to day ease of use with features and flexibility to print in a secure Wi-Fi based set-up, 4.0 reduces costs of daily system administration for our customers.”

  53. Konica Minolta Unveils the KM-1, a 29.5-inch Cut-sheet UV Inkjet Press to Be Launched in Spring 2016, at IGAS 2015

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    Tokyo (September 3, 2015) – Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) and Konica Minolta Business Solutions Japan Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta BJ), Konica Minolta’s domestic sales company for its Business Technologies Business, will showcase the KM-1, a 29.5-inch cut-sheet UV inkjet press to be launched in the spring of 2016, at IGAS 2015, Japan’s largest international show of printing machinery and materials held at Tokyo Big Sight from September 11 to 16, 2015.

    Background to and purpose of development

    Today, a shift from analog to digital printing is rapidly underway in the commercial print market due to a growing demand for high-mix low-volume production, shorter production time, one-to-one marketing*1 and variable printing*2.

    Konica Minolta has two key plateless printing technologies; namely, inkjet, and electronic photography technologies. Since 1999, Konica Minolta has been developing digital printing systems for users in the commercial print field, leveraging its prowess in electronic photography technologies. Konica Minolta’s KM-1, a B2 cut-sheet inkjet press presented as a technology showcase at drupa 2012 – one of the biggest international printing shows in the world – garnered high praise, especially for its image reproduction quality and its ability to print on a wide variety of paper media. In IGAS 2015, Konica Minolta will show to the public the market-ready version of the KM-1, which is to be launched in the spring of 2016.

    Major features of the KM-1

    The KM-1 is a UV inkjet press co-developed by Konica Minolta and KOMORI Corporation*3.

    Outstanding image quality comparable to that of a sheet-fed offset press

    The KM-1 can cover the entire process of creation of a wide range of printed products with its outstanding reproducibility of sharp-edged, high density images and characters.

    Consistency in color reproduction quality

    Even after continuous long-time use, the KM-1 can produce prints of consistent density and color tone, thus ensuring high print quality at all times.

    Ability to print on a wide variety of paper media

    The KM-1 can handle paper of different thicknesses, ranging from thin tissue paper to packaging paper. The KM-1 can also print, without the necessity of pre-coating, on rough paper, Japanese paper, and other types of paper that are difficult to print using a conventional press.

    Ability to accommodate paper up to 23 x 29.5 inches in size, larger than B2

    With the ability to print on a sheet of paper slightly larger in size than B2, the KM-1 offers greater efficiency and versatility in the imposition process. For example, users can lay six pages out on a sheet of paper and print them to make double gatefold brochures or letterhead sheets.

    Main specifications

    • Max. paper size 585 x 750 mm (23 x 29.5 inches)
    • Print resolution 1,200 x 1,200 dpi
    • Print speed 3,000 sph (single side), 1,500 sph (both sides)
    • Printable paper Printing paper (coated paper, non-coated paper, special paper)
    • Pre-coating is not necessary.
    • Paper thickness 0.06‒0.6 mm (single side), 0.06‒0.45 mm (both sides)
    • Printhead Shear mode piezo printhead of Konica Minolta’s proprietary development
    • Ink Four-color (YMCK) UV ink of Konica Minolta’s proprietary development for exclusive use

    Living up to the brand proposition, “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta remains committed to helping customers enhance their corporate value by offering higher-quality products and services from customers’ perspectives, in response to the ever-diversifying printing needs in the commercial print market.

  54. Konica Minolta Releases Watkiss PowerSquare 224 for Combined Book-Making Process

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    Ramsey, NJ – August 10, 2015 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in information management focused on enterprise content, technology optimization and cloud services, announced today its release of the Watkiss PowerSquare 224, a complete book-making system for digital print applications, for its monochrome bizhub PRESS products.

    In a single machine, the PowerSquare combines the four processes of stitching, folding, spine forming and trimming to produce SquareBack books up to 224 pages thick. The maximum book thickness, of 10.4mm, is double that of alternative conventional booklet making machines, so it is ideally suited to higher paginations or to thicker stocks. This makes the Watkiss PowerSquare 224 a fast and cost-effective alternative to perfect binding or tape binding. It features fully automatic settings for different book size and pagination, including variable stitch-leg length for varying book thickness. The PowerSquare supports booklets of various types and sizes for:

    • SquareBack Books
    • Thin Books
    • Manuals
    • Catalogs
    • Brochures and Pamphlets
    • Magazines
    • Reports

    Generally intended for mid- and high-production environments, the PowerSquare is easy to use. Simply enter the job parameters into the touch-screen and press ‘Start.’ To make repeat jobs easier still, you can save the settings — each with a unique name — for instant recall when required. The PowerSquare requires a small floor space. When operating with online connection to your printer, its ergonomic layout delivers finished books close to the normal operator position, saving time and reducing operator fatigue.

    “Konica Minolta continually looks to bring solutions to our customers that increase the value of their output and expand their market opportunities,” says Kevin P. Kern, senior vice president, Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. “Only the PowerSquare 224 can offer added value by producing a sharper, higher quality finished product.”

  55. Konica Minolta Targets Small and Mid-Sized Offices with Cost Efficient bizhubs

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    Ramsey, NJ – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leader in information management focused on enterprise content, technology optimization and cloud services, announced today the launch of four new multi-function products (MFPs) intended for small and mid-sized offices and departmental use. These new products, which include the bizhub 287, bizhub 227, bizhub C368, and bizhub C308, can easily adapt to tackle diverse work styles, including standard web browser and Open API support to connect to specialized applications and easy access to mobile connectivity.

    The featured mobile connectivity supports a wide range of devices, including smartphones and tablets that are NFC (Near Field Communication) capable. Konica Minolta’s award-winning INFO-Palette control panel design rounds out the package for a unified user experience across our office product line.

    bizhub 287 & bizhub 227

    Both of these monochrome MFPs are exceptionally cost efficient, bridging the gap between Compact (A4) MFPs and traditional mid-volume office MFPs. The bizhub 287, a 28 ppm machine, and the bizhub 227, which runs at 22 ppm, have many eco-friendly attributes that differentiate them from other products. These features include:

    • Low energy consumption
    • Use of recycled materials in the manufacturing of the machine
    • Energy Star and EPEAT certifications

    bizhub C368 & bizhub C308

    The robust feature set and outstanding color output quality of these new color MFPs are only the beginning of the story. The new bizhub C368, a 36 ppm machine, and the bizhub C308, a 30 ppm machine, offer innovative solutions to address a wide range of customer needs. Newly added functions include a mobile connectivity area built into the control panel, detachable universal trays and a hard disk mirroring option. The C368 and C308 also feature:

    • Standard web browser
    • Open API
    • 9” control panel featuring a mobile touch area with support for NFC (Near Field Communication)
    • Optional Fiery controller

    “With today’s new product launches, Konica Minolta continues its legacy of developing great products and offering a new level of efficiency and flexibility,” says Kevin P. Kern, senior vice president, Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. “Konica Minolta continues to demonstrate its commitment to provide new tools that will empower our clients and optimize their workflow, the implementation of our next generation system architecture with standard browser functionality.” 

    Republished with permission from Buyers Laboratory LLC (www.buyerslab.com). ©2013 Buyers Laboratory LLC

  56. New Release of Konica Minolta’s Dispatcher Phoenix Delivers High Availability for the Enterprise

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    7/27/2016

    Ramsey, NJ – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced a major new release of its popular, dynamic and award-winning automated document workflow solution, Dispatcher Phoenix, Version 6.0. Available in different vertical editions to address specific business needs, Dispatcher Phoenix streamlines and automates common document processing tasks, maximizing productivity and helping users increase their business efficiencies.

    This new release introduces added support for enterprise-level deployments, enhanced security, and a brand new web user interface. Addressing the needs of enterprise-level organizations, including optimal performance, maximum uptime, and scalability, these exciting new features include:

    • Failover – A major requirement in mission-critical environments, Dispatcher Phoenix offers automated failover capabilities. If one server unexpectedly goes down, all workflow functions are automatically moved to the Dispatcher Phoenix Failover server, eliminating downtime. Heartbeat monitoring between Dispatcher Phoenix servers ensures continuous operation.
    • Load Balancing – Document processing tasks can be automatically spread across multiple servers, preventing bottlenecks and speeding processing time. Automated redundancy, synchronizing and replicating workflows between all Dispatcher Phoenix servers are supported, eliminating the need for any human intervention.
    • Offloading – Maximize productivity by automatically offloading processor-intensive tasks, such as OCR processing and traffic coming from MFPs, mobile devices and the web, to separate servers.
    • Dispatcher Phoenix Web – Dispatcher Phoenix’s zero footprint web user interface provides centralized access to important enterprise tools as well as workflow sharing and control capabilities.
    • Workflow Sharing – Workflows can be shared with specific users or groups of users in Active Directory, providing administrators with the fine-tune control they need to manage workflow access.
    • Workflow Control – Administrators can run, pause and stop workflows without accessing the application.
    • Dashboard – A graphical snapshot of the system is provided for analytics, monitoring and reporting.
    • Application / Workflow Security – Users can now safeguard access to the application and workflows by setting up a password to be entered before the application is launched or a workflow is run.
    • MFP Bulk Import – To speed up set up time, bulk importing of multiple MFPs for registration is supported.

     

    “Konica Minolta understands the needs of our enterprise customers,” said Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence Solutions and Product Planning. “This powerful new release provides enterprise-level companies with the solution they need to best manage and control their documents, ultimately providing an improved level of customer service to their clients in less time.”

     

    Republished with permission from Buyers Laboratory LLC (www.buyerslab.com). ©2016 Buyers Laboratory LLC