Last month Konica Minolta warned that graphic arts toner production at its Tatsuno factory in Japan would not resume until November, following two separate incidents at the facility in July and August involving a fire and subsequently an explosion.

Tatsuno makes the patented Simitri HD polymerised toner used in KM’s high-end production digital presses.

KM said it was “highly likely” that the static electricity generated in the toner drying process was the cause of the dust explosion.

Production at its Kofu factory, which makes toner for office devices, has also been paused while a risk assessment was carried out. It will resume production on 28 October. read the rest here