EFI and Konica Minolta Business Solutions Establish Wide-Format Printer Distribution Agreement

Blog Publisher’s Comment:

Konica-Minolta expands its wide-format printing systems portfolio to EFI wide-format systems.  Today’s visit to Konica-Minolta’s web-site does not yet reveal that information.  K-M’s web-site does show that K-M offers the full lineup of KIP printers and systems and a full lineup of HP DesignJet printers as well.  I’m wondering how reprographers, those who are KIP and HP dealers, feel about K-M’s push into the wide-format equipment market.

From a Press Release issued by EFI on February 17, 2015

EFI and Konica Minolta Business Solutions Establish Wide-Format Printer Distribution Agreement

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EFI™ (Nasdaq:EFII) and Konica Minolta Business Solutions (KMBS) are bringing advanced, high-quality wide-format inkjet imaging technology to a broader selection of the printing industry through an expansion of their existing partnership. Under the terms of a new agreement between the two companies, KMBS and its authorized dealer network will service and sell EFI Wide Format LED and UV inkjet printers.

The non-exclusive agreement expands the market presence for EFI to KMBS's extensive customer base of North American digital printing providers. It also provides KMBS with a stronger wide-format production offering, using advanced technologies from EFI - the graphic arts industry's leading provider of LED and UV inkjet printers and inks.

"This new agreement expands upon our long term partnership with EFI," said Kevin P. Kern, senior vice president, Marketing at Konica Minolta Business Solutions. "The unique attributes of EFI's inkjet products allow us to offer new capabilities to our Graphic Communications Customers, providing them access to new markets for high-value print."

"EFI has longstanding, successful strategic alliance with KMBS centered on the development of EFI Fiery® products for Konica Minolta production equipment, and we are very pleased to have the opportunity to expand our partnership," said Frank Mallozzi, EFI's senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing. "We are excited that KMBS, with its extensive distribution and deep relationship with customers, chose EFI Wide Format products as a high-quality inkjet graphics platform to offer to its customers."

Dino Pagliarello, director of product marketing for KMBS, announced the wide-format distribution pact during Konica Minolta's National Dealer Meeting in Los Angeles. The two companies already work together to develop digital front ends that provide advanced color imaging and production capabilities on Konica Minolta digital presses and printers.

High-quality imaging, and an even higher return on investment.

EFI's top-selling hybrid roll/flatbed wide-format product, the EFI H1625 LED printer, is the first printer available in KMBS sales channels through the new agreement. The versatile, 65-inch wide printer gives KMBS customers the benefit of higher-end imaging using four color grayscale printheads producing near-photographic image quality with saturated colors and smooth gradations.

The printer also offers EFI's industry-leading white ink, a truly differentiating feature that expands the productivity, value and quality users can offer on backlit signage, aluminum and aluminum composite signage, window clings and other popular offerings printed on clear, metallic or colored media. EFI's industry-leading "cool cure" LED technology on the printer reduces energy consumption and costs compared to arc lamp UV and latex inkjet printers, plus it gives users the ability to print on a broader range of substrates, including media that cannot withstand high-heat drying or curing methods.

Thanks to its reduced energy usage and an affordable price, this hybrid printer model has a low total cost of operation, which makes the printer an even more valuable addition to the line-up of inkjet products KMBS sells.

KMBS and authorized KMBS resellers will begin selling EFI LED Wide Format hybrid printers in May. For more information about EFI Wide Format printers, visit www.efi.com, or call 800-875-7117.