Konica Minolta at Printpack India showcases its digital strength and leadership with innovative products. Interview with Mr. Katsuhisa Asari, Manish Gupta and Ashok Sethi.
Konica Minolta’s strength in the market today is not just focusing on the digital prints for the commercial and packaging market but also the value add-ons which the company provides to the market. “We believe ‘converting innovative ideas into reality with our technology’ is where Konica Minolta’s strength lies in the Indian market,” says Katsuhisa (Kurt) Asari, Managing Director of Konica Minolta Business Solutions India.
Being at the top of Indian print market with almost 60% market share in Digital Production Printing, the company also boasts the largest service staff in the digital printing industry giving Konica Minolta customers the confidence to invest in their products.
“Unlike many other global developed markets which are saturated, the Indian market,” believes Ashok Sethi, AGM Sales, PP/IP, Konica Minolta, “is a fast growing and thriving market with the economy driving the growth of industries including printing industry. With increased activities post Covid, we see a very strong growth prospect for the entire digital printing diaspora in the country.”
It was a pleasant experience at Konica Minolta stall at Printpack India – it was jam packed, abuzz with business activity, featuring hoards of industry people watching live demos, inquiring, meeting and adding to the effervescence of pulsating feeling of a growing community of printers and their businesses.
“Accurioshine 3600 is the latest from the MGI stable that we are showing at the show with jam packed demos and interaction with present and prospective clients,” reveals Manish Gupta, General Manager Marketing – PP & IP at Konica Minolta Business Solutions India. “Printing is indeed our core area of business but to add more value to a printed product is the focus for us at this show. Value addition is the best way our customer can actually earn more money,” adds Ashok Sethi.
Another highlight was the Accurio Press C7100/C7090 series, the new machines with 35 inch feeder which can accommodate a 4 up A4 sized brochures thus typically helping customers to provide what the market demands. All these machines have digital finishing options which not only increase productivity but also the financial viability of digital printing business. “Colour management is an inherent feature in our machines which helps in maintaining the colour consistency of the printed products,” reveals Ashok Sethi.
Inline Perfect binder for digitally printed books is another new product showcased at the company’s Printpack stall. “It gives as good as a PUR quality perfect bound book which in fact has been a head turner for the printer friends passing by our stall which we are sure will be a rage amongst digital printers in the near future,” claims Ashok Sethi excitedly.
Acknowledging Indian market’s strategic importance for Konica Minolta, Asari adds, “We consider India to be the leading strategic market for Konica Minolta and my mission is how to take the Industrial Printing and Production Printing business to the next level. Of course, our strength is the exceptional operational excellence. But, apart from that we have a strong product range and even stronger technology and service network. However, we need to take another step forward to bring the business to the next level by further improving our sales & service force to excel as a total solution provider.”
“Today we are no. 1 in the Indian market but this market share is not the only goal to speak of. We shall keep up with the customer first approach in the coming years too in order to retain our top position and to thrive. Of course, the growth of competition is a good thing which shows the maturity of the market and brings opportunity for all to grow, earn and to serve customers,” he concludes.