Konica Minolta has emerged as a key player in the digital transformation of the label and package printing industry. The company has developed tailor-made solutions to drive customer service, which has resulted in significant success.

Frank Mallozzi leads Konica Minolta’s industrial print channel, which includes the company’s industry-leading high-speed inkjet, labeling and embellishment businesses. He recently sat down with L&NW to explore the company’s growth and how its technology is disrupting the label printing market.

The future of the label market is strong. We expect the converting volume to grow by nearly $2 billion by 2030, with much of that growth being ideally suited to digital. But printing is only half the equation—finishing is where converters differentiate. That’s why we introduced the MGI JETvarnish 3D Web 400, a one-of-a-kind digital embellishment powerhouse that does both foil and varnish in a single pass. It applies spot and raised UV, plus digital hot foil—all inline, all digital. No plates, no dies, no tooling. Add the optional semi-rotary diecutter and you have a fully embellished, finished label ready to ship—all in one pass.

As the market began embracing short-run digital printing, we saw the opportunity to scale. We partnered with Grafisk Maskinfabrik (GM) to integrate finishing technologies—unwinders, rewinders, web cleaners, and BST web guides—into our second-gen platforms. We also collaborated with Mark Andy to supply the digital engine for their Digital Series presses.

In 2019, the AccurioLabel 230 took center stage, delivering improved media handling, reinsertion accuracy, and lower running costs. The market responded. Then at Labelexpo Americas 2022, we introduced our flagship press: the AccurioLabel 400. With speeds up to 131 fpm, integrated real-time color management via IQ-520 and a fifth color high-opacity “One-Hit” white, the AccurioLabel 400 enables brilliant output on clear films and metallic substrates.

But what makes Konica Minolta’s toner-based label platform truly unique is its simplicity, reliability, and versatility. Our systems are built from a proven electrophotographic print core, refined over decades and used in thousands of global installations. They are operator-friendly, require minimal maintenance, and are ideal for converters looking to quickly adopt digital without the complexity or high overhead of inkjet or hybrid systems.

Over the last 10 years, we’ve sold more than 1,700 roll-to-roll digital label presses worldwide. This growth is a testament not only to the technology—but to the trust customers have in our people, our platforms, and our promise to deliver white glove service every step of the way.

Our customers consistently praise how easy our systems are to learn and operate. Because of the common toner engine architecture across our platforms, there’s minimal training required. We deliver training right on-site using real jobs, dramatically shortening ramp-up time.

And it’s not just about the press—our ecosystem is built to support digital adoption. We’ve built a team of workflow specialists, color management experts, and application engineers who provide consultative services tailored to each converter’s needs. Whether it’s integrating with MIS, optimizing prepress workflows or identifying bottlenecks, we provide white glove service to ensure success.

This “support simplicity” is a huge advantage. We’re not just selling a machine; we’re delivering an entire label production platform backed by subject matter experts who care.

This system is a production powerhouse—perfectly suited for short-run premium label jobs in sectors like wine and spirits, health and beauty, craft foods and nutraceuticals. What sets it apart is its AI-based registration system, which eliminates up to 80% of setup time and ensures pinpoint accuracy.

And with its optional semi-rotary diecutting module, it transforms from embellishment to full label-finishing in a single pass. The JetVarnish 3D Web 400 isn’t just a machine—it’s a profit center, enabling high-value output with fast ROI and minimal waste.

We also manufacture our Simitri® toner using biomass-derived materials, and its ultra-fine particle size reduces toner usage by more than 30%. Our Induction Heating (IH) fusing process further slashes energy consumption during production.

Add to that our ability to print on recyclable, plant-based, and compostable substrates, and you have a platform that aligns beautifully with the values of today’s sustainability-conscious brands, especially in markets like organic food, cosmetics, and lifestyle products.

Finally, our JETvarnish embellishment technology supports digital foil and varnish without waste-generating dies or plates and features “de-foilable” output that aligns with circular economy principles.

Expect us to introduce more automation, smarter AI-based controls and enhanced workflow integration to reduce touchpoints, errors, and operating costs. We’ll keep growing our community of workflow specialists, application engineers, and customer experience teams to support our clients with best-in-class service and support.

Our vision for the next decade is clear: empower converters to win more business, handle more complexity, and do it all with less friction and greater flexibility. With Konica Minolta, you get a trusted partner, a proven platform, and a team that’s ready to help you grow.

Click here to learn more about Konica Minolta digital label press technology or request more information.