By Lance Martin, Vice President of Marketing, Komori America 

The demands placed on today’s commercial print operations continue to intensify. Shorter run lengths, faster turnaround expectations, and the need for consistent quality across a wide range of applications have reshaped how printers evaluate new technology. In response, inkjet has emerged as a powerful complement to offset production, offering speed, flexibility, and operational efficiency at scale.

Komori’s latest B2 UV-LED inkjet press, the J-throne 29, was developed with these realities in mind. Recently installed at 1Vision in Houston, Texas, the press represents the next step in Komori’s approach to digital production, built on decades of experience designing high-performance offset presses.

Inkjet technology gives printers a competitive advantage by delivering consistent quality over time, simplified operation, and the ability to produce work with minimal labor input. The J-throne 29 adds another dimension by supporting higher production volumes through increased press speed and a production-oriented design.

Offset DNA Drives Digital Performance

One of the defining characteristics of the J-throne 29 is how deeply it draws from Komori’s offset heritage. From feeder to delivery, the press incorporates design principles proven in high-speed sheetfed offset environments.

The feeder is engineered for reliable, consistent feeding of a wide range of substrates at high speeds. Unlike many digital platforms currently available, the J-throne 29 uses a pallet-fed system and a feed head assembly modeled after Komori’s half-sheet offset presses. This approach supports stable sheet separation and accurate transport at production speeds of up to 6,000 sheets per hour in straight mode.

The infeed and registration systems also reflect offset-based engineering. Sheets are guided into a vacuum transport system that ensures precise registration before printing, an essential factor in maintaining image quality and consistency across longer runs.

From registration through delivery, sheet transport builds on the foundation established by Komori’s earlier IS-29 platform, refined to meet higher productivity requirements and commercial-scale volumes.

Designed for Real-World Production Volumes

Delivery was a critical focus during development. At high production speeds, traditional tray-based or ejection-style deliveries introduce unnecessary risk, including jams and increased manual handling.

To address this, Komori equipped the J-throne 29 with a pallet-fed delivery system designed to support continuous production. A dedicated sampling tray allows operators to pull samples or run short proofing tasks without interrupting the main production flow.

This configuration reduces manual intervention, minimizes operator fatigue, and supports sustained uptime during long production shifts.

High Productivity in a Compact Footprint

Beyond speed and reliability, the J-throne 29 stands out for its space efficiency. The press delivers 6,000-sheet-per-hour performance within a footprint of approximately 338 square feet, making it one of the highest productivity-per-square-foot digital presses available.

This compact design allows printers to integrate high-volume digital capacity into existing production environments without extensive facility modifications. For operations balancing offset and digital workflows, the J-throne 29 offers a practical way to expand capabilities without sacrificing valuable floor space.

UV-LED Ink Advancements Improve Efficiency

A key productivity advantage of the J-throne 29 lies in its newly developed UV-LED ink system. Unlike earlier UV-LED ink formulations that required extensive heating cycles for both ink and substrate, the new system eliminates the need to heat the substrate altogether.

Ink temperature is maintained through a compact control unit operating at approximately 120F. As a result, press startup is immediate, with no warm-up delays. This contributes to improved efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and faster job turnaround.

Immediate curing also supports inline finishing and downstream processing, allowing smoother integration into commercial and packaging workflows.

Expanding Value Across Commercial and Packaging Print

The J-throne 29 is designed to support a wide range of applications, from commercial print to packaging production. Its combination of speed, consistent quality, and simplified operation makes it a strong complement to offset presses, allowing printers to assign work to the most efficient platform based on run length, substrate, and turnaround requirements.

For commercial printers, the press offers push-button simplicity paired with production-level output. For packaging applications, particularly short-run and versioned work, it delivers digital flexibility without compromising throughput.

This hybrid approach enables printers to respond quickly to changing customer demands while maintaining high standards for quality and reliability.

A Platform Built for What’s Next

The J-throne 29 reflects Komori’s broader approach to digital production, applying offset engineering discipline to inkjet technology. By focusing on feeder stability, sheet transport, delivery efficiency, and energy-conscious curing, Komori has created a digital press designed for sustained production environments.

As more printers adopt hybrid production models that combine offset and digital strengths, platforms like the J-throne 29 play a critical role in maintaining competitiveness and operational flexibility.

At Komori, the focus remains on delivering technology that works in real production settings, day after day. And as always, you can count on us.