Langenhagen, Germany - Konica Minolta has today announced a strategic partnership with the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and sponsorship of its annual DMA Awards.

Demonstrating its commitment to constant innovation and collaborative approach to the marketing industry, Konica Minolta will be showcasing its capabilities to agencies and brand owners through key initiatives.

Marketers and brand owners will see how Konica Minolta’s world-class print and marketing technology solutions will be used in a practical way throughout the campaign and awards evening. 

Printed collateral from an array of systems will demonstrate how they can attract and engage audiences as a stronger part of the marketing mix. Konica Minolta is at the forefront of smart solutions such as cross-media and augmented reality that allow brands, agencies and print service providers to deliver engaging content that maximises the marketing return on investment. 

Print innovation will be showcased using Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1 UV inkjet sheet-fed system complemented by the MGI jet varnish and foiling technology. Brands will discover how they can use latest advances to create stunning visual campaigns by using printing on textured stocks and personalized decorative effects. Among the print partners contributing directly to the DMA campaign success will be Rehms Druck GmbH, from Germany, which has chosen Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1 for its first investment in B2 inkjet.

Konica Minolta values the importance of working with key industry bodies such as the DMA and is continually developing its approaches to support agencies and brand owners. Through its dedicated Marketing Services Division, brand owners and agencies can access a range of services aimed at optimizing marketing spend to create stronger returns.

Mark Hinder, Head of Market Development for Konica Minolta Europe, said: “We’re in constant dialogue with brand owners who are becoming increasingly aware of the value and importance that print can deliver when connected through a multi-channel approach. Our constant drive for innovation is allowing us to push the boundaries of what print technology can do. This allows us to demonstrate a powerful combination that can be achieved through the use for instance printing stunning personalized messaging on to highly textured substrates, or by applying personalized decorative effects and foils for more engaging campaigns.

“We want creatives to experiment and develop their approaches beyond what they thought was possible and through this key partnership it will allow us to do just that.”

“It’s no longer just about print. We support customers in so many practical ways to ensure they can learn, build and grow their business by understanding what can be achieved. As we continue to reach out into new markets and link closer to agencies, marketers and brand owners, developing relationships in a partnership approach, such as this one with the DMA, will become increasingly important. 

He added: “Given Konica Minolta’s heritage of being a world leader in digital printing and solutions based on our outstanding inkjet technology, we are now further expanding into printing and marketing solutions in Europe and further afield.” 

Rachel Aldighieri, MD of the DMA, said: “ What sets the DMA Awards apart is the rigour with which we judge each and every campaign. In our eyes a great campaign gets results, sits on rock solid strategy and fizzes with creativity. We’re excited to partner with Konica Minolta for this year’s Awards, to champion the best work in our industry.”