RAMSEY, N.J., Oct 21, 2008 -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leading provider of advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop, today announced it is again expanding its robust offerings for the production print market, all of which will be showcased during Graph Expo(R) 2008. The new offerings -- highlighted by innovative print systems and software enhancements -- enable commercial printers to improve productivity, quality and efficiency.

Konica Minolta will showcase the following offerings at Graph Expo, which takes place at McCormick Place South in Chicago, Illinois on Oct. 26-29, 2008:

-- bizhub PRO 2500P Series -- Printing up to 250 duplex impressions per minute, the bizhub PRO(R) 2500P Series of production print systems is designed specifically for mid- to high-production environments that depend on lightning-fast, black-and-white prints. Thanks to its single-pass perfecting marking engine, the bizhub PRO 2500P Series is the most productive digital cut-sheet printer in the marketplace. Ideal for mid- to high-production environments that require high volume black and white printing where the majority of work is duplex, the bizhub PRO 2500P Series was designed with the professional printer in mind. This series uses single-pass technology to print both face and reverse side simultaneously to offer high productivity, spot on registration, and offset-like image quality at up to 250 images per minute (8.5" x 11', 2-sided).

-- bizhub PRO C6501/C6501P/C5501 Series -- The new flagship production color system from Konica Minolta, the bizhub PRO C6501/C6501P Series (65 print pages per minute [ppm] in color and black and white) and bizhub PRO C5501 (55 print ppm in color and black and white) give commercial print businesses reliable solutions for short-run jobs that require quick turnarounds. A hand-in-glove fit for commercial print operations to masterfully handle short-run, on-demand jobs, the bizhub PRO C6501/C6501P/C5501 Series excels in environments requiring high speeds for quick job turnaround, large paper and output capacities for automated long-run operation, the ability to run diverse substrates, professional-grade inline finishing capabilities, and above all, reliability and durability.

-- Printgroove Enhancements -- An innovative modular automated production print workflow software that provides an affordable platform that costs far less than large-scale legacy production and print management software, Printgroove Version 1.3 (v.1.3) is an enhanced, innovative technology that offers users a streamlined workflow process that makes print jobs run more smoothly. It accomplishes this in many ways, including: 24/7 job submissions, automated job ticketing and quoting; print queue management, device status monitoring; and even finishing, shipping and billing. The modular design of Printgroove(TM) allows for an exact configuration to target a specific need with the right solution set, including the ability to handle any traffic volume and accommodate as many printing steps and stations as business processes demand.

Konica Minolta will preview Printgroove POD Ready during Graph Expo. Combining powerful production features in a modular Windows application, Printgroove POD Ready adds flexible make-ready, preview and editing capabilities to the Printgroove automated print management system. Its easy-to-use interface enables pre-press personnel to adjust document layouts, preview jobs, modify or touch-up scan data, handle imposition tasks, add tab sheets, create headers/footers and edit or confirm job tickets. In stand-alone use or combined with the advanced functions of Printgroove v.1.3, Printgroove POD Ready gives you more ways to streamline your workflow -- to speed output, reduce costs and improve print quality for increased customer satisfaction.

Additionally, Konica Minolta will preview two new visual aid software applications that will further enhance the print shop experience. These two new applications -- a visual workflow building tool and a job status display console -- will continue to make commercial printers far more efficient, when combined with the award-winning production print systems from Konica Minolta. They will debut in Spring 2009.

-- bizhub PRO C65hc -- A soon-to-released color print system, the bizhub PRO C65hc is based on the bizhub PRO C6501 platform. The bizhub PRO C65hc (scheduled for release in winter 2009) will incorporate an entirely new toner technology that will enable it to reproduce the widest color gamut of any four color device on the market. The vivid output of the bizhub PRO C65hc will be sure to turn heads at this year's Graph Expo.

-- bizhub PRO 1200 -- An upcoming black-and-white print system, the bizhub PRO 1200 is a 120 ppm system due to launch in Summer 2009. The bizhub PRO 1200 will be previewed along with Konica Minolta's first inline GBC Punch unit. More details will be made available closer to the launch date.

"These advanced production print offerings mark yet another significant step for Konica Minolta, as we continue to deliver more complete solutions to the production print market," said Kevin Kern, Vice President, Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. "By tailoring systems and software applications specifically for the commercial printing market, we are ensuring high quality, superior reliability and high durability to the market, while still offering cost-effective diversified inline printing and optimal workflow."

To experience Konica Minolta's portfolio of bizhub PRO production print systems and software, visit Konica Minolta at Graph Expo at Booth #4816 from October 26-29, 2008. To schedule a booth tour and/or interview with a Konica Minolta executive, please contact Bethany LoMonaco at 781.782.5836 or [email protected].