Konica Minolta launches top-end colour system

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd has launched its next generation high-speed colour production print system.

For sophisticated production print applications the bizhub PRO C6501e is designed as a complete document production system with optional on-line print finishing units. The bizhub PRO C6501e is capable of heavy-duty production of up to 300,000 A4 sheets per month with an output capacity of up to 3,900 pages per hour (65 pages per minute) in both full colour and black-and-white.

Output can be onto stock up to 300gsm thick for simplex print or 256gsm for perfecting print (duplex) output. The bizhub PRO C6501e provides a full and flexible range of substrate choices. Standard paper capacity is 7,500 sheets from five paper trays. Air assisted feeding rollers and new dehumidification heaters on each paper tray, as well as a double feed detection mechanism ensure paper feed reliability. Both paper and toner can be replenished on the fly, without the need to stop production on the system.

Konica Minolta bizhub PRO systems are designed to meet the print industrys preferred bleed size for media of SRA3 (320 by 450mm). This allows full size A3 documents with trim marks and A4 booklets to be trimmed to size. The accuracy of the output can be judged by the 0.5mm registration tolerance (per side) for perfecting (duplex) production and sheet-to-sheet.

Online finishing options

Optional online print finishing units are available for six-way folding, (V-fold, letter-fold-out, letter-fold-in, double parallel, Z-fold and gate-fold) booklet making and post inserting. Automatic trimming means that booklets 50 sheets thick (200 pages) are trimmed to size for a flush edge finish. The post inserter can be used for pre-printed covers or to insert sheets at regular intervals.

The bizhub PRO C6501e is currently the only colour digital print system to offer on-line perfect binding. Sheets can be bound between a minimum of 15 sheets (30 pages) and up to a maximum 30mm spine width (300 sheets/600 pages when 80gsm is used), including z-folded sheets. Automatic in-line trimming of covers to the exact size required ensures sophisticated print products every time without manual intervention. The bizhub PRO C6501e integrates hotmelt gluing technology into a fully automated, digital perfect binding production process, providing output flexibility paired with attractive low running costs.

As the bizhub PRO C6501e staples, punches and perfect binds at the full rated speed of 3,900 impressions an hour there is no loss of speed for producing finished documents as against sheet production. This rapid throughput means the bizhub PRO C6501e generates high productivity for CRDs and maximum revenues in a commercial print production environment.

The bizhub PRO C6501e is available without a scanner unit as the printer only bizhub PRO C6501eP.

Choice of print controllers

The new bizhub PRO C6501e colour system is available with a choice of EFI Fiery IC-305 controller or the Creo powered IC-304 Plus. 

The IC-305 controller features EFIs Fiery colour management system providing users with an extensive range of powerful software utilities for high-volume applications, as standard. Designed for high-speed colour printing, the IC-305 Fiery controller offers variable data printing support and a range of security features, ensuring complete data security control, including access to the controller itself.

Konica Minoltas IC-304 Plus print controller, powered by CREO, is the enhanced version of the innovative and powerful IC-304. The IC-304 Plus features open connectivity with current, industry-leading operating systems, different file formats as well as the latest Konica Minolta technologies. 

The IC-304 Plus print controller provides advanced colour management technology for superior default colour settings and easy colour calibration. It provides the ability to make last-minute colour corrections easily, edit spot-colours and correct gradation without re-RIPing. The IC-304 Plus is the ideal choice for users who want advanced colour-management to produce high quality colour output.

In terms of finishing, operators using either print controller with the bizhub PRO C6501e gain access to all of the production printing systems comprehensive finishing capabilities. This includes full Perfect Binder support, enabling a completely automatic production of perfectly bound books. Tightly integrated with the bizhub PRO C6501e, the print controllers make printing a simple, continuous operation from automated imposition to printing and finishing the final product.

Innovation builds on success

Commenting on the launch of the next generation bizhub PRO C6501e, Pauline Brooks, Group Product Manager Production Print for Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK), said, The bizhub PRO C6501e builds on the considerable success already achieved in this market sector by Konica Minolta. The launch shows that we are determined to innovate and to offer our customers a product development path in digital colour. The new system offers customers a choice of finishing options, print controllers and a printer only variant to meet every need. Previewed at this years drupa exhibition, the new bizhub PRO C6501e system has already generated considerable interest and we anticipate strong initial orders.

About Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd markets business machines manufactured by Konica Minolta Business Technologies Inc, in the United Kingdom through a direct sales force and a network of independent dealerships. Konica Minolta digital imaging systems are manufactured in Japan and China. All are ISO9002 accredited for quality procedures.  

UK turnover for Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd is in excess of 150 million, placing the company fifth in the digital copier market with a 6.8 per cent share of the black and white market and a dominant 30.5 per cent share of the colour market (not including colour capable systems) according to InfoSource. 

In Europe overall, Konica Minolta occupies the number 1 market position in true colour.

With a total workforce of 19,800 employees world wide, Konica Minolta Business Technologies generated net sales of over 3.15 billion in fiscal 2005/2006. Globally Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. has a turnover 5.07 billion. Building on its strong core of optical technologies developed over many years, Konica Minolta Business Technologies aims to be a corporation offering products and services that are essential to all areas of digital imaging.