Konica Minolta collaborates with SCREEN Graphic Solutions

Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) and SCREEN Graphic Solutions Co., Ltd (SCREEN GA) has announced its enhanced collaboration in the digital commercial printing area to achieve seamless hybrid workflows and increase user-friendliness in offset printing and digital printing.

Speaking on the collaboration, Yoshinori Koide, Marketing Head, PP Business Unit, said, ''Our KMI IC-60x ‘controller’ already connects SCREEN EQUIOS by using JDF/JMF. So CP customers can print via EQUIOS UI directly. To enhance this JDF connectivity continuously with SCREEN, KM has collaborated with Screen GA to promote seamless hybrid workflows. This will increase customer efficiency and make is user friendly. It enables the EQUIOS users (Commercial Printers (CP)), to directly change the Accurio’s printing settings such as colour, paper.”

The two companies will further improve efficiency, expand business opportunities, and deliver new value in the commercial printing industry. 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 colour 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.

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.”

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.