CHICAGO, Oct 26, 2008 -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc., a leading provider of advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop, and EFI, the world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today launched the Fiery(R) IC-305 v2.0 and IC-408 v2.0 designed to drive the new bizhub PRO(R) C6501/ C5501 Series of color production print systems. Ideal for the graphic arts market, the Fiery-driven Konica Minolta engines comply with the PDF-X3 standard and have PANTONE Goe support, new finishing and input options, and sample print capabilities, in addition to the Fiery's superior image quality. The IC-305 v2.0, a full featured server, also has powerful productivity and VDP features, a unique visual workflow and comprehensive finishing workflow.

With this launch, the Fiery-based Konica Minolta color production print systems provide state-of-the art color reproduction capabilities that meet stringent graphic arts requirements and are now fully complaint with PDF-X3. The PANTONE Goe library of colors has been added, making it easier to get perfect PANTONE colors every time. Customers in production environments now have automated printing of booklets, tabs and stapled sets and the option to run large jobs unattended. A sample print feature has been added as well, enabling the operator to perform quality control while the engine is running, reducing time and waste.

"The newest flagship color systems bring valuable new time-saving features and productivity enhancing tools to our customers," said Kevin Kern, vice president, marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. "Driven by feature-packed EFI Fierys, these solutions will enable customers to reduce turn-around times and costs while increasing profits."

"EFI is one hundred percent focused on our customers' success, and we designed the Fierys for the Konica Minolta bizhub PRO C6501/C5501 Series of color production print systems to enable users to take full advantage of their engine's capabilities," said Frank Mallozzi, senior vice president, worldwide marketing and sales, EFI. "In today's difficult economic environment, the robust features of the Fiery allow customers to truly maximize their equipment investment."

The IC-305 v2.0 features workflow innovation and professional tools, including the fastest, most open VDP solution and a unique Visual Workflow that optimizes productivity by providing job progress at-a-glance. Optional with this Fiery are EFI Compose, which provides powerful functionality for complex document make-ready tasks, and EFI Impose, which delivers a unique Visual Imposition Workflow to enable customers to create unlimited templates to automate job submission and reduce printing errors. For the most demanding graphic arts environments, customers can add the Graphic Arts Package, Premium Edition, designed to ensure total color quality control in the printing workflow.

The Fiery IC-305 and IC-408 and other EFI solutions designed for Konica Minolta customers are available through Konica Minolta's North American direct sales, authorized dealer and value-added reseller channels. More information is available at http://kmbs.konicaminolta.us. More information regarding EFI is available at www.efi.com and 800.875.7117.