Konica Minolta Bizhub Press C8000

The new flagship among the Konica Minolta digital presses, the C8000 made its debut at Ipex 2010 in UK and entered into the next step in production print with capability of producing offset-like full colour output.

However, Konica Minolta Business Solutions India (KMBSI), the subsidiary of Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Japan, which entered into the Indian printing market early this year, unveiled the C8000 at PrintPack India 2011.

Since arriving on the worldwide commercial print scene in 2005, Konica Minolta has made rapid strides into the Indian print market, launching a series of Bizhubs like Bizhub Pros C6501, C65hc, 1200/1500; Bizhub presses C6000, C7000, and Bizhub C552/C652 among others. In India, Konica Minolta is represented by HCL Infosystems, KMI Business Solution and Monotech Systems.

Since it became available, the C8000 has seen four installations. Surat-based Shiv Digital was the first to install the new KM press supplied by Chennai-based Monotech Systems, while the second was installed by PrintStop in Mumbai. This machine was installed by HCL Infosystems. Monotech has installed two more, one at Guruprasad Color Lab and the other at Imagica, both in New Delhi.

Less or more prints
According to Monotech, the C8000 holds unlimited potentials to meet high-level needs of professionals.

"This is the first installation of the Bizhub Press C8000 in India and we are delighted to provide a highly efficient digital print solution through Shiv Digital. It will now be able to offer not only high value to their customers’ print requirements but also short and high volumes, as and when required," said T P Jain, managing director of Monotech. "It can deliver super colour prints that can build profitable repeat business."

The Bizhub Press C8000 is the digital colour device aimed at the mid production market and is loaded with features that has a best fit in this market. According to Jain, the C8000’s data processing outputs 1,200dpi x 8-bit depth resolution offering printouts at 1,200x,1,200dpi resolution print. "The high image quality comes closest to offset printing quality."

Besides, KM uses the Simitri HD toner, which it describes as bio-mass toner because it contains 10% plant-based components, and the only bio-mass polymerised toner. To top the features, KM has incorporated a newly designed eight-beam laser unit into the Bizhub C8000 to enhance image quality and longevity, housing it in a die-casing for better durability.

"It has also kept in mind the digital affordability factor, incorporating long life frames with durable and long lasting parts," said Jain. The press also has features such as de-curling and de-humidifying of pages removing curl and static, which means sheet curl is virtually eliminated.

Colour control
Though the two installations have been at digital print specialists’ location, the C8000 is aimed straight at commercial printers and Konica Minolta has ensured that the press is capable of delivering what that market needs.

"The Bizhub press is fitted with a spectrophotometer, which is geared to meet Fogra standards. It checks each sheet after it has been printed, assuring printers that all the sheets in the job are printing to the same consistency," says Umang Singhal, product manager at HCL Infosystems.

For HCL, the last year was good with the company reporting around 150-unit installations. "Speed and quality are our leading competitive differentiators and the Bizhub Press C8000 is capable of taking the colour digital output to the next level with its exceptional performance and reliability. It’s a reason why many customers can count on Konica Minolta for their digital imaging needs," says Singhal.

The C8000 can be equipped with KM’s workflow solution Printgroove POD, which offers streamlined and efficient workflow. According to (KMBSI), the Printgroove POD Suite ensures simple, streamlined work processes which increase the overall productivity of central reprographic departments (CRDs), print providers and commercial digital printers.

Click here to read more about Ipex South Asia 2011