The press has been designed to fill the gap between th
ose entry-level and higher end label printing presses currently available, according to the manufacturer.
Konica Minolta has launched the bizhub Press C70RLC label printer at Ipex 2014
The C70RLC is based on a prototype shown at LabelExpo, Brussels last year, and runs at 18m/min, where configured as a roll-to-roll printer, and 9m/min as a roll-to-laser die cut configuration.
The roll-to-roll configuration has been launched first, with the roll-to-laser cutting model to be released at a later, still to be decided, date.
“We are still facing some challenges with that model,” said business development manager of Konica’s international marketing division Edoardo Cotichini.
“That’s not specific to Konica Minolta, that’s down to the known limitations of laser die cutting in general.”
He added: “The main interest is currently around the roll-to-roll model anyway.” The target market for the new printer is established converters and conventional label printers wanting to print shorter run and variable data labels.
“Some of our potential customers have told us the quality of the print could compete with the higher end digital label printers,” said Cotichini.
“The quality is definitely higher than the average inkjet printer. And in reality the roll-to-roll model’s speed is more like 18.9m per minute.”
He added: “There are two reasons for launching this now. It’s clear to everyone that what we were seeing happening in commercial printing years ago is happening in the label market now. That’s what customers are telling us.”
Though the press can print on film substrates, Konica said 90% of applications would be on paper as the machine is currently designed as a four colour model and so does not have white ink.
The C70RLC will be commercially available at the end of this year, with Cotichini reporting “several” sales in the pipeline. “Interest in the machine is global,” he said.
Konica has also launched higher quality versions of its 60 and 71ppm C6000 and C7000 models at Ipex, in the form of a bizhub PRO C1060 and C1070, and bizhub PRESS C1060, C1070 and P.
Also on its Ipex stand is the new KM-1 B2 sheet fed UV inkjet press due for full launch in 2015, when it will have a guide price of 1.5-1.6m euros. It is aimed at commercial printers wanting to expand into larger sheet sizes for 3-panel and 4-panel brochures, pocket folders, posters, POP, wrap-around book covers and light packaging applications
The machine has a 585x750mm sheet size and top speed of 3,300 sheets per hour with paper transport developed by Komori.
"I have no intention of competing with Komori offset UV technology," said Akiyoshi Ohno, executive officer division director of Inkjet Business Unit at Konica. "In the current market some conflict is unavoidable, but I think we can expand the market coverage."
"We want to make this into an industrial revolution," he added.
"A KM2 is planned. That could be an increase in heads, speed or colour or paper size. We have a lot of ideas."
Konica Minolta also announced Ikuo Nakagawa as its new president of business solutions Europe at Ipex. Nakagawa started at the company in 1982 and was previously president of business solutions China.