Konica Minolta opens textile innovation centre

The state-of-the-art technology centre helps inkjet customers obtain first-hand experience in some of the world´s most advanced digital systems for textile printing.

Konica Minolta has announced that it has opened a new ?5 million textile innovation centre at Como, near Milan, in the heart of Europe´s textile printing operations.

More than 30 VIPs and other distinguished guests attended the launch of a state-of-the-art technology centre that helps inkjet customers obtain first-hand experience in some of the world´s most advanced digital systems for textile printing. With its brand proposition, ¨Giving Shape to Ideas¨, this investment is another practical example of Konica Minolta´s ongoing commitment to innovations in manufacturing processes in the textile market by offering higher performance products, and to helping customers enhance their corporate values, while joining the global effort to reduce environmental threats. The Konica Minolta IJ Textile Europe Demonstration and Training Centre at Bregnano, Como, features three of the world´s most advanced systems for the textile market. Live printing is shown on Konica Minolta´s pioneering NASSENGER SP-1, NASSENGER 10 and NASSENGER 8. At the ceremony, the button to start the flagship NASSENGER SP-1 (single-pass) system was pressed by Bregnano´s Mayor, Elena Daddi, accompanied by Konica Minolta´s Akiyoshi Ohno and Enrico Verga. The Konica Minolta NASSENGER SP-1 is a high-productivity, high-resolution inkjet textile printer employing a single-pass system. It is characterised by advanced features such as ultra high-speed, high productivity and high resolution, made possible by Konica Minolta´s expertise in print heads, printing mechanisms and inks.

The Konica Minolta NASSENGER 10 and NASSENGER 8 models are scan-type high- and medium-speed inkjet textile printers. The three models give customers a wider range of options and are due to be formally launched at ITMA international textile machine exhibition in Milan, from November 12-19.

Akiyoshi Ohno, Konica Minolta Inkjet Division former President and now Senior Adviser, said: ¨With our brand proposition, ´Giving Shape to Ideas´, we remain firmly committed to innovations in the manufacturing process in the textile market by offering higher-performance, environmentally friendly products, and to helping customers enhance their corporate value, while joining the global effort to reduce environmental threats.

¨This investment in a new training, education and demonstration centre is a real and practical commitment. We are deadly serious about this market and helping customers to maximise the opportunities in this fast-emerging market of textile printing.¨

Enrico Verga, Chief Operating Officer for Konica Minolta IJ Textile Europe, said: ¨Initial reaction has been extremely positive to our new innovation centre, which will not only provide demonstrations for our world-class technology, but is also an important training and educational facility in this important and growing textile inkjet printing market. We look forward to welcoming printers here from not only in the local area, but also right across Europe and further afield.¨