Print is a unique industry with a 600-year history of innovation in technology, creativity, commerce and craftsmanship.
When Gutenberg invented the movable type printing press in 1440, he fired the starting gun on the Renaissance, the Reformation and ultimately the scientific flowering that ushered in the Enlightenment and the modern era.
These developments in turn created the conditions for the print industry’s own extraordinary progress – a positive feedback loop enabling new techniques, technologies and materials that opened up new markets and opportunities for printers.
With such a huge role in shaping social, cultural, economic and intellectual life worldwide, it’s no wonder Time Life Magazine called print the “most important invention of the second millennium.”
But there’s no innovation without risk. Today, digital has displaced print as the dominant medium for mass communication, and the print industry is once again undergoing a major transformation.
A New Era
While most communication has moved online, the physical nature of print keeps it relevant. The industry continues to innovate and grow, creating new applications and opportunities. But there’s no room for complacency.
Businesses need to adapt quickly — enter new markets, offer new services, rethink their business models and overhaul their processes — to stay ahead in this rapidly changing landscape.
At Konica Minolta, we’ve been leading innovation in production printing for generations, and have helped thousands of customers to make the transition from analog to digital.
To help tackle immediate challenges and lay the groundwork for long-term success, we focus our energy on four key areas: automation, efficiency, reliability and support.
Automation – The Robots Aren’t Here to Take Your Job
Automation reduces the need for manual intervention so people can focus on higher-value tasks that make better use of their skills.
Many print businesses see labor as a barrier to growth. The problem is not necessarily that people are expensive — it’s that it’s hard to find skilled workers. Printing requires creativity and craftsmanship, and companies are competing for talent not just within the print industry, but with employers in other industries, too.
Automation isn’t about replacing people; it’s about freeing them from low-value, low-skill, repetitive manual tasks.
“The more that our press can run itself, the better it is for pretty much any user.”
Wilson Howe- Assistant Product Manager, Production Print, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.
We’ve built automation into our production printers to act as a “co-pilot” for your skilled workers, monitoring print runs for accuracy and consistency, optimizing processes and catching errors automatically — without halting production.
Shifting this routine work to machines doesn’t just make economic sense, it frees up your skilled employees to focus on the work they’re trained to do, giving them the time to use and develop their skills and creativity. With improved job satisfaction, their productivity goes up and they add more value for you and your customers.
“The press is able to catch and monitor, making adjustments all on its own.”
Wilson Howe
Efficiency – Doing More with Less
Sustained profitability and growth depends on increasing productivity – finding ways to do more with fewer resources, while still delivering high-quality results and outstanding customer service. In short, being more efficient. This is not a new idea, but it’s still a challenge for many businesses.
Time lost moving materials between machines, outsourcing jobs to other suppliers or stopping a machine mid-run – to adjust settings, change media type or extract a rogue sheet – all add time and cost to a project, cutting into your profits.
“We’re helping our customers achieve more with fewer operators, while enabling greater creativity on the fly.”
Jason Dizzine- Vice President, Portfolio Management and Planning, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.
But profitability isn’t the only reason to drive for efficiency. Print companies are as conscious as anyone of the need to adopt sustainable business practices. Most businesses today are working to reduce their carbon footprint, cut waste and improve their ‘green’ credentials. These efforts aren’t just good for the planet, they’re smart business decisions in a world that increasingly values environmental responsibility.
Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress range of digital presses is built for efficiency, with high levels of automation and eco-friendly features. Machines can be configured with integrated inline finishing options, like binding, stapling and folding, greatly expanding production capabilities without the need to shift between machines or outsource processes. Intelligent media handling automatically adjusts settings based on media type, size and weight, while smart quality care optimizes toner use and detects and removes flawed prints – all without interrupting production.
We’re also committed to reducing our environmental impact, recently achieving 100% renewable electricity sourcing for production of all of our multi-function printers (MFP) and digital printing systems worldwide (excluding toner production). And we’ve developed new eco-friendly consumables like Simitri® V toner, which reduces energy consumption thanks to its lower fusing temperature.
Reliability – Building Customer Trust
Sustained success depends on customer loyalty, and loyalty is built on trust. Consistent performance throughout the production cycle, from faultless color reproduction to dependable delivery times is key to building the trust essential to long-term customer relationships.
Color consistency is key – especially for branded material. If a customer comes back for a reprint a year later, you need to ensure the colors match perfectly.
“We’re advancing automation to enhance color quality and consistency, ensuring seamless reproduction across press runs.”
Jason Dizzine
Building trust means meeting deadlines – every time. Anyone who has spent time in a print shop knows that things can and do go wrong, so it’s important to have systems in place to minimize disruption and keep things running smoothly.
Our machines are designed and built for heavy-duty daily use, with a proven reputation for dependability. We offer remote monitoring and diagnostics so technicians can resolve issues quickly without needing to be on-site, reducing downtime. And we maintain a global inventory of parts and equipment in strategic locations to ensure we can get replacements out and repairs done quickly, minimizing downtime and delay and ensuring our customers meet their customers’ deadlines.
“We can deliver equipment efficiently, ensuring timely availability for our customers.”
Karl Friedrich Edenhuizen- Senior Product Manager, Color Devices, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe
Support – Beyond the Machine
The end of the sales cycle is the beginning of the relationship, and a strong customer relationship demands a commitment to ongoing support.
Successful print businesses don’t just provide products and services – they partner with their customers, solving problems, building confidence and offering guidance to get the best results and the most value from every job.
We give the same level of comprehensive support and partnership to our professional print customers, from onboarding to troubleshooting, ensuring they have the information, infrastructure and resources they need for long-term success.
“It makes a difference when an expert breaks down technical features – transforming complex details into clear, practical insights.”
Karl-Fredrich Edenhuizen
We’ve invested in building technical and commercial expertise, and we make that knowledge available to our customers to help them achieve their business goals. Our specialists provide accessible ongoing support, helping clients to optimize workflows, maximize the value of their equipment, identify new markets and compete for new revenue opportunities.
A Proud Tradition, A Bright Future
The print industry has a centuries-long tradition of craftsmanship, creativity and innovation. It’s played a central role in the story of the modern era and will continue to shape the future.
We know there are challenges ahead, but with trusted partners, a commitment to quality and a focus on automation, efficiency and reliability, our production print customers can adapt, diversify and thrive – looking forward with confidence to another 600 years of innovation and success.
