Komori announces digital partnership with Konica Minolta

The partnership, which will enable Komori to target the digital commercial printing market, is the latest deal to offer a major offset press manufacturer a route into the digital sector.

Companies will use this May's Drupa tradeshow to showcase a prototype inkjet digital printing system, which has been jointly developed by the two parties.

In addition, Konica Minolta will also supply its established Bizhub Press C8000 platform to the offset manufacturer on an OEM basis, for distribution into Europe, Japan, the US and China.

Komori said its expanded product offering in both the digital and litho sectors would help promote an 'offset on demand' mentality to customers.

In addition, the offset manufacturer plans to become a 'print engineering services provider' and work with customers to improve the profit structure of the industry.

Komori is expected to announce further details of the partnership at its pre-Drupa press conference this afternoon (29 February). More to follow.

The tie-up between Komori and Konica Minolta follows on from the formation of a global alliance between Manroland and Océ in December 2011 and Heidelberg's partnership with Ricoh last February.

This article originally appeared at printweek.com