Inkjet & Digital Printing

High-volume system meets with approval

Thursday 20. February 2020 - As part of its in-house exhibition Print Experience 2020, Konica Minolta officially launched its new flagship toner-based sheet-fed press, the AccurioPress C14000, on the German market. The public interest in the companys first high-volume production system was extraordinary: By the end of the event series, 17 pre-orders had already been placed. With the AccurioPress C14000, Konica Minolta closes the gap between systems in the medium speed segment up to 100 pages per minute and the inkjet-based B2+ sheet-fed printing system AccurioJet KM-1.

With the launch of the new high-volume system, Konica Minolta is taking an important step towards meeting the growing demands of commercial printers and industrial print users: The increasing volume of digital printing jobs, with ever-shorter print jobs and the constant pressure on margins, requires systems that can handle a large number of jobs in the shortest possible time. Consequently, Konica Minolta has also geared the AccurioPress C14000 towards automation. Only a profound automatic control of all printing and quality parameters is able to relieve the operating staff from time-consuming and error-prone interventions in the printing process.
Automation relieves printing companies
Just like its sister model, the AccurioPress C12000, the AccurioPress C14000 features IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Care technology to ensure uninterrupted printing. With two integrated scanners and a colour spectrophotometer, the system continuously measures the colour consistency on each sheet and automatically corrects the settings on a case-by-case basis – while the press is running. The higher output resolution, which corresponds to 3,600×2,400 dpi at a color depth of 8 bits, is achieved by optimized two-dimensional register correction. An improved Automatic Inspection Unit (AIT) technology offers extended inspection options, checks the print quality on each sheet, also detects streaks, stains and errors in the printout and automatically reprints them if necessary, sorting out misprints into a secondary tray.
An integrated sensor for automatic media detection is standard on the new AccurioPress models. It detects the loaded media and assigns the appropriate tray, eliminating time-consuming paper settings and operator errors. In conjunction with the IQ-501, it ensures that costs for misprints, rejects and reprints are avoided, while at the same time increasing productivity.
New inline finishing
A special highlight of the model series is the new TU-510 trimmer unit – an inline-connected four-edge trimmer with creasing device, intermediate cuts, banner option and business card output tray. With its help, a fully automated implementation of print jobs with final processing is possible – from imposition, printing and trimming to output. The trimmer unit supports printers, for example, in the production of business cards or postcards, borderless brochures or banners that can be produced in lengths of up to 1,300 millimeters. The LS-507 high-capacity stacker, which is also new, supports the high speed of the systems and enables banners to be transported to the following finishers. It enables the operating personnel to unload the machine without any problems while it is running.
Variety in the choice of media
Another feature of the new AccurioPress series is its ability to handle a wide variety of media in a wide range of grammages. With a maximum sheet weight of 450 g/m², the systems are designed to produce even eight-page folded brochures inline or book covers for external finishing. To further improve efficiency and expand possible print products, even envelopes and structured media can be fed through the standard fusing unit.
Automated control of print quality, color matching and register accuracy, even with high-volume print runs, results in a higher number of usable prints with less waste. The AccurioPress C14000/C12000 offers the highest reliability for up to 2.5 million A4 prints per month and offers twice the toner capacity of previous models.
“We developed the new systems in close consultation with our customers and their everyday requirements,” explains Cord Hashemian, Product Manager Production Printing at Konica Minolta. “This is one of the reasons why automation technologies and flexibility play a prominent role in the new AccurioPress series. That’s because print service providers today are looking for solutions that will support a growing range of profitable print products in the future. Interested customers can now get to know the system in presentations. Visitors to drupa 2020 will also have the opportunity to take a close look at the new systems and many other innovations at the Konica Minolta stand (Hall 8b).
Further technical specifications at a glance:
Print speeds of up to 140 sheets per minute (DIN A4) and 80 sheets/min. (DIN A3).
Automatic linearisation of the printing system, front-to-back registration and creation of colour output profiles.
Exceptional image quality at a resolution equivalent to 3,600×2,400 dpi.
New Simitri V toner for brilliant and matt quality and innovative S.E.A.D X image processing technology.
Printing on a wide range of media – from structured materials to plastics and envelopes – weighing up to 450 g/m².
Banner printing up to 1,300 mm (900 mm in perfecting).
Flexible inline four-page trimming and creasing option with the new TU-510 trimmer unit.
Borderless printed banners and formats up to 1,300 mm