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Eight Group has purchased an AccurioJet KM-1e B2+ inkjet press from Konica Minolta UK, the first in the UK to do so, as part of its £1.2m expansion plans
Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK has supplied Eight Group with an AccurioJet KM-1e digital B2+ inkjet press, the first of its kind to be installed at a UK print business.
The Nottingham-based print specialist reportedly chose the AccurioJet KM-1e for its print quality and colour accuracy, as well as its sustainability credentials and compact footprint.
The addition of the press brings its larger-format production in-house, which was previously outsourced to lithographic subcontractors.
The LED inkjet press is capable of achieving 1200 x 1200dpi resolution utilising Konica Minolta’s Dot Freeze technology, a patented inkjet printing process that fixes ink droplets on the print media, aiming to prevent colour mixing and seepage.
The KM-1e can print on textured stock, canvas, or metallic media, with substrates as thin as 0.06mm.
Along with the KM-1e, Eight Group has also invested in a Konica Minolta AccurioPress C12000e production printer, both of which join an AccurioPress C14000 the company has used for two years.
As a certified B Corp, the products’ sustainability credentials were key to Eight Group selecting the AccurioJet press. The advanced UV inkjet technology uses ink that does not require water, with its ink application process and quick-drying LED UV ink both designed to require lower energy use.
Eight Group also chose to use the AccurioPro Flux Premium and AccurioPro Dashboard software alongside the UV printers. These software additions provide a unified workflow and dashboard, designed to provide advanced management information and insights into unitisation, capacity, and maximising productivity.
Based in Nottingham, as of 2024 Eight Group states it has a combined turnover of £16m and employs 32 members of staff. Eight Group’s AccurioJet purchases come as part of a £1.2m investment in enhancing its production facilities.
Lance Hill, chief executive officer of Eight Group, says: “This is a considerable enhancement for our business and a UK first for Konica Minolta. This AccurioJet digital press enables us to produce exceptional quality, short-run, large-format work in-house, that we previously outsourced to litho subcontractors.
“We have greater control of production whilst keeping more revenue in-house, better utilisation of our equipment, and enhanced speed to market, along with top-quality results across a wide range of substrates. We now have an entire digital print line powered by Konica Minolta.”
Jon Hiscock, head of Production & Industrial Print at Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK, adds: “This is one of those key moments for the UK B2 print sector as it embraces the digital B2+ inkjet technology.
“We’re proud to partner with Eight Group on this important step forward. Their investment reflects true partnership with a clear understanding of evolving customer needs and future market dynamics. By co-creating a tailored, scalable solution with Eight Group we’re not just delivering exceptional print quality and efficiency – we’re helping them to future-proof their business.”
