Washington DC – 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 the availability of the new bizhub PRESS C70hc, which produces vivid color quality that surpasses other production print systems on the market.

With a print speed of 70 ppm, the bizhub PRESS C70hc is ideal for graphics professionals and print shops that require higher quality output. Advertising agencies, graphics arts firms, creative design studios, photography studios, direct mail organizations, and commercial printers all stand to benefit from using the bizhub PRESS C70hc.

The bizhub PRESS C70hc leverages Konica Minolta's eco-friendly High Chroma toner, first introduced with the game-changing bizhub PRO C65hc. The environmentally friendly toner incorporates innovative new technology enabling it to produce a wider color gamut than the typical four-color device in the marketplace. In addition, it generates less waste and emits less CO2, NO2, and SO2. Further, the toner particles are consistently sized and smaller when compared to conventional toner size particles for a smoother finish and sharper text.

Konica Minolta's custom-designed IC-601 Internal Print Controller is perfect for the bizhub PRESS C70hc. Developed in-house, it brings powerful workflow benefits within reach of more print-for-pay and commercial printing applications – including 1,200 dpi printing at full rated engine speed, high-speed RIP processing and transfer between control and print engine, enhanced accuracy in CMYK color reproduction, and new color management functions, job control, editing functions, and remote operation capabilities.

The IC-601 also features Optimized Profiler – an exclusive mapping algorithm with settings fine-tuned to achieve various results: CMYK, similar to offset color reproduction; RGB Natural Mode, for natural reproduction to match prints from the bizhub PRESS C7000/C6000 Series of Color Digital Presses; and RGB Vivid Mode, for maximum use of the color space to emphasize vivid colors.

"The bizhub PRESS C70hc gives organizations a considerable advantage for cross media communication, unifying corporate and brand identity across different communication platforms," said Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. "It produces brighter, more accurate color because it reproduces a larger portion of the sRGB color gamut than previously possible. Our customers can count on Konica Minolta to provide them a competitive edge by delivering eye-catching output that is closer to what is displayed on sRGB monitors versus traditional four-color devices."

The bizhub PRESS C70hc features Konica Minolta's proprietary advanced color processing technology - S.E.A.D. (Screen-Enhancing Active Digital Process) – and combines an array of technical innovations to guarantee truly exceptional color reproduction at top speed. To achieve such a high level of precision, Konica Minolta's fastest color production print system is equipped with a dual-beam laser unit and HI-PER ASICs (High-Performance Image Processing – Application Specific Integrated Circuits). Additional quality features and technological innovations within S.E.A.D. technology are:

- Dot Position Control for superb image reproduction and fine lines and text

- Multi-bit screening for extremely natural reproduction of gradations

- ITbit technology for precise slim text, reversed text and outlines

- CRS technology to monitor and adjust engine conditions constantly for color stabilization of output quality

Witness firsthand the award-winning technology from Konica Minolta at the 2011 ON DEMAND Conference and Exposition (March 22-24) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. To reserve a spot at the Konica Minolta press conference, schedule a personal tour of the Konica Minolta Booth (#2400), and/or an executive interview, please contact James Norberto at [email protected].