Finch Paper today announces it has been selected by Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) as one of the first to have its Finch Fine Color Copy and Finch Opaque Digital lines tested and approved for the Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C8000 Color Digital Press. The paper grades have been added to Konica Minolta’s new Media Guide for commercial printers.

Konica Minolta’s Formalized Substrate Testing Process
Today’s high performing production electrophotographic (EP) presses demand high performing papers. Dawn Nye, Product Marketing Manager, Production Print, Konica Minolta, explains. “Times have changed from simply ‘load the paper and hit print.’ Today it’s all about reliability and consistent image quality, and providing paper that performs up to our high standards.”

Several factors, including increasingly higher production speeds, have necessitated closer inspection of substrates to assess their suitability for Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS digital presses. Papers must be well manufactured, run consistently, and generally meet the demands of the press from pick-up and registration through to toner transfer, fusing and exiting the press for post-processing steps.

“Konica Minolta’s approval process includes testing on feed, fusing, jamming, registration, slipping, curling and scratching. By approving the Finch papers, our commercial printers can have a level of comfort and confidence that the paper has been extensively evaluated,” Nye continues.

New Konica Minolta Media Guide
Finch Paper is one of the first companies invited to participate in testing for Konica Minolta’s new Media Guide, created for commercial printers to have an approved media list as a trusted resource for a wide variety of substrates. The Guide, updated quarterly, includes helpful tips such as starting point default settings for the printer. Once a media is run on a particular press, the operator can start with the default settings, optimize, and then save the specific settings for future use.

Why Finch Fine Color Copy and Finch Opaque Digital Are a Fit for bizhub Systems
Finch Fine Color Copy and Finch Opaque Digital are manufactured to tight tolerance specifications for the demanding EP production color presses for productivity, reliability, and image quality performance. The papers’ unique formulation is less reactive to heat required for complete toner fusing, and has less tendency to curl out of the press and in post-processing steps.

“Finch Fine Color Copy is a true, optimized digital substrate,” says Connie Harrison, Digital Applications Manager, Finch Paper. “Smoothness and surface topography have a direct influence on the setting of toner layers on the paper. This is even more important with newer presses that use smaller toner particles and therefore require a smoother surface to emphasize finer detail and sharper edges in the print image.

“Finch’s digital lines are precision sheeted to today’s digital tight tolerance to ensure high throughput and runnability,” she adds. “We take the necessary steps to manufacture our digital paper lines to tighter moisture tolerances than offset to ensure uniform toner transfer sheet to sheet, and carton to carton,” Harrison adds.

Finch Fine Color Copy – a top-notch, value-minded performer
Optimized for dry-toner print production, Finch Fine Color Copy – the best value for digital printing – is one of the smoothest and brightest papers for full-process color printing and copying.

Finch Fine Color Copy is designed to meet the demands of newer digital solutions available from OEMs. This high-quality sheet is ideal for office and digital production printing, features FSC and SFI certification, and 10% post-consumer recycled fiber. 

Finch Opaque Digital – digital for top speeds
Finch Opaque Digital performs for running light color at top speeds on all types of digital presses and laser printers. This dimensionally stable uncoated paper is optimized for production environments that require colors to pop with little show through. An extensive range of weights and sizes allows a printer the best options for production.  

For more information about Finch Paper and its performance-tested papers, please visit: www.finchpaper.com.