Konica Minolta Installs AccurioJet KM-1e LED UV Inkjet Press in Alabama

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. announced the installation of its AccurioJet KM-1eLED UV Inkjet Press at BPI Media Group (BPI). The family-run commercial printer out of Boaz, AL utilizes wide format, digital, offset and digital roll capabilities to provide POP signage, mailing services, online storefronts, design services and more.

A new customer to Konica Minolta, BPI was seeking a B2 sheet size device with UV ink capabilities to run plastic substrates, and automatic duplexing was a must. The company knew it was time to go inkjet as their cost analysis found it would reduce costs, and it needed a good source for their run lengths coming down off its conventional offset presses.

Another large part of BPI’s business is offering online portals that reduce costs and help control all aspects of marketing materials, so the company needed something that could align with all the required automations. The imposition and finishing automation software offered by Konica Minolta put it even further ahead in the running.

“Not pulling plates saves us so much time. Our storefront normally has a 72-hour turnaround, but eliminating the front end with automation significantly speeds that time up,” said Alan Davis, president, BPI Media Group.

“Having a fast set-up and keeping the machine fed with quick-turn work is crucial – the front end system is even more important than the actual device – and the automation offered by the AccurioJet KM-1e fits in with our business perfectly. We are also very pleased with the color prints we are getting off the machine, and feel the quality is comparable if not better in some cases to offset.”

Additionally, BPI can now take on work that calls for the use of variable data, and recently picked up a new customer after installing the AccurioJet KM-1e. The project required eight different 19”x25” posters that needed to be collated into 500 sets. With the KM-1e’s ability to run collated sets, once a job is printed it only needs separated, something that would have been very difficult to accomplish with offset.

“Our industry is changing, particularly with digital inkjet,” added Davis, who was born and raised in the offset printing business. “These are extremely exciting times with technology, and if you embrace it there is so much you can do. With the AccurioJet KM-1e we already have a brand new account so soon after installation, which indicates the great potential we have to grow our clientele and revenue.”

“We are very excited to partner with the leadership team of BPI Media Group. Using our technology to help bring in new business for clients is always an amazing feeling, and we are pleased to be able to provide printers with the expanded substrate flexibility, outstanding image quality and fast turnaround they need to be competitive,” said Bill Troxil, president, Industrial Print and Production Print Business, Konica Minolta. “The opportunities the AccurioJet KM-1e high-speed press opens up for businesses like BPI Media Group are boundless.”