Fremont, California – Electronics For Imaging, Inc., and Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. announced a new EFI™ Fiery® digital front end (DFE) designed to drive the AccurioPress™ 6136 series of monochrome digital presses from Konica Minolta®.

Running on the latest EFI Fiery FS300 Pro software platform, the new EFI Fiery MIC-4160 external DFE is the first Fiery server for black-and-white print engines to launch on the new NX One server platform with Fiery QuickTouch™. The new DFE is almost 50% faster than previous generations and is compatible with the innovative new Konica Minolta IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Optimizer for automated density control and accurate front-to-back registration. The latest Fiery Command WorkStation® used with the DFE delivers a true unified job management interface for all Fiery Driven™ printers including cut-sheet, wide-format, superwide-format and high-speed inkjet devices.

“In-plants and commercial printing businesses need greater efficiencies to streamline their monochrome high-volume production operations and this new EFI Fiery DFE helps users get the most from their advanced AccurioPress 6136 investment,” said Kevin Kern, senior vice president, business intelligence services and product planning, Konica Minolta. “The DFE’s features help make users monochrome digital print workflows just as advanced as those found in high-end digital color print production.”

Free Fiery DFE training from EFI, found at the Learning@EFI site, will give AccurioPress 6136 series customers information to ensure they can use all the Fiery product features to the fullest extent possible.

New, bi-directional communication provides synchronized, real-time paper catalog updates that can be entered from either the press or the Fiery Command WorkStation interface, bringing operational flexibility to users, along with new paper tray assignment tools. Plus, the DFE’s Fiery QuickTouch display provides easy, automated backup and restore features. Optional EFI Fiery JobMaster™ software available with the DFE simplifies the process for creating manuals and other long documents with visual tools for tab insertion, scanning, image editing and media assignment.

End-to-end integration for greater efficiency

The new Fiery DFE also integrates into existing print production workflows through JDF implementation, which seamlessly connects with automated estimating, scheduling, job ticketing, accounting and other processes managed by EFI's suite of industry-leading MIS and web-to-print products, including EFI PrintSmith™, Premium Pace™ and Enterprise Pace bundles for Konica Minolta.

In addition to built-in, industry-standard and certified JDF connectivity, Fiery API enables print service providers to rapidly develop live, bidirectional integration with their internally developed software or web services for their unique workflow automation needs. Fiery API is a REST (Representational State Transfer) application programming interface, allowing easy development regardless of application or software platforms including web browser, Windows®, Mac®, Linux®, iOS®, Android®.

“We are pleased to continue our relationship with Konica Minolta in bringing this outstanding DFE to the AccurioPress 6136 series of monochrome printers,” said John Henze, vice president of Fiery marketing, EFI. “It not only gives users our latest production enhancements, it brings users all the efficiencies of our new NX One touchscreen display, giving users faster views of job status information and quick access to server management tools.”

The new Fiery DFEs run on Windows 10 and are available from Konica Minolta and authorized Konica Minolta resellers. For more information about EFI Fiery Driven products, visit www.efi.com or contact 800-875-7117.