Priority initiatives in digital decoration and packaging printing
Konica Minolta Inc. (Konica Minolta) announces an additional investment in the French-based MGI Digital Technology (MGI). MGI is an industry-leading manufacturer of high value-added digital-based printing systems, and Konica Minolta and MGI formed a share and business alliance in January 2014.
On September 30, 2020, Konica Minolta acquired an additional stake in MGI, bringing the shareholding together with existing shares to 42.3%. MGI was founded in 1982, currently employs 204 people and is headquartered in Fresnes, France. MGI's revenues for the full year 2019 amounted to 68.17 million euros.
MGI's digital print finishing machines exclusively use inkjet heads from Konica Minolta. The systems address the demand for value-added print products that enhance the look and feel of printed products, such as UV spot coating and effect foiling. MGI is also expanding in the field of printed electronic applications (printing of electronic functional materials) and other industrial printing processes.
In 2016 Konica Minolta fully entered the industrial printing sector. By maximising the value of print through digital printing and finishing technology, the company has created markets while expanding the scope and reach of its business.
The label and packaging printing industry offers plenty of scope for digitalisation, especially in the post-printing processes of varnishing, filming and die-cutting. By integrating MGI's spot varnishing, foil stamping and other digital output systems into its product range, Konica Minolta has increased its presence in the industrial printing market. The company sees this as a growth area.
In a statement, Konica Minolta states that the size of its own industrial printing business has approximately doubled in the last four years. During the Covid 19 pandemic, demand stagnated temporarily in some areas of the industrial printing sector. In the medium to long term, however, the company expects that the demand for industrial printing will shift more than ever to on-demand printing. The switch from analogue to digital printing will accelerate to respond to this shift in demand.
The digitalisation of post-processing will become increasingly important. In particular, the range of digital systems for print finishing must be expanded to make printed materials more attractive. It is also crucial that Konica Minolta further deepens its alliance with MGI, the world's first company to market digital finishing equipment.
Konica Minolta currently markets the AccurioJet KM-1e, a B2+-format UV inkjet sheetfed press that can also print packaging cartons. The market for packaging printing is expected to grow by 15% per annum*2 between 2018 and 2028, and is set to become a key area for business expansion. At Drupa 2016, MGI presented the ALPHAJET as a technological showcase, a system that integrates printing, finishing and post-press and also prints on corrugated.
Konica Minolta will strive to increase the value of MGI and build a strong position in the market by successfully launching ALPHAJET. In doing so, the company will take advantage of the contact with its customers that it has established through its global sales network and capabilities.
The statement goes on to say that in the future Konica Minolta intends to offer the ultimate digital system that can automatically handle all prepress, printing and post-processing up to the final product.
