Rehms Druck continues defining its successful digital future with Konica Minolta

Companies are currently investing heavily in digital printing technology, according to research. As the 8th drupa Global Trends Report notes, "printers and suppliers are determined to grow their business and make the necessary investments from 2023 onwards." It also points to returning confidence despite global economic markets experiencing more shocks in the last two years than at any time since the second world war.

Digital is growing more quickly and taking a higher share of the value of the overall print market, a trend accelerated by the pandemic. According to Smithers, the rise in digital print value across Europe as a print process is growing, from €27.6 billion in 2017 to €41.2 billion in 2027, a change of 14.2%. By volume all digital will go up from 351 billion A4 prints to 582 billion A4 prints, a change of 66% in the same 10-year period. Overall, digital value will go up from 16% of all overall print and printed packaging value in 2017 to 19% in 2027.

Rehms Druck GmbH, based in Borken, is proof of this: it is replacing its existing AccurioJet KM-1 and two AccurioPress C83hcs machines with two AccurioJet KM-1e digital UV inkjet systems. In addition, the full-service print provider has also chosen the digital high-speed laser cutting system Motioncutter and an MGI JETvarnish 3D 9000L finishing solution.

Innovative solutions opening further business areas
As a result, Rehms Druck GmbH, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022, will be able to digitally map its entire production process. This will sustainably prepare the business for the digital future in professional printing. "Through the comprehensive renewal and expansion of our machinery, with innovative solutions from Konica Minolta, we are not only meeting current customer requirements even more efficiently, but also opening up further business areas with the possibilities of digital shaping and finishing," said Daniel Baier, Managing Director of Rehms Druck GmbH.

With 140 employees and state-of-the-art machinery, Rehms Druck GmbH is one of the most powerful print providers in its region. It has successfully operated for many decades in commercial printing, packaging printing and dialogue marketing (print & online). In 2017, Rehms Druck became the first German business to invest in an Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1, which is known as the "Swiss Army Knife" of the printing industry because it has so many uses.

Proven AccurioJET KM-1e system providing good ROI
Mr Baier added: " The system has always proven itself and offers a very good return on investment which it why we remain fully convinced of Konica Minolta's Professional Printing systems solutions and in its cooperation. That's why we will continue to rely on them in the future."

"We chose the KM-1 at the time because we were impressed by its quality. This has not changed to this day, and I am convinced that the successor system will also meet our high expectations. For us, an end-to-end digital production process is the key to being able to offer our customers inspiring new solutions for cross-media advertising concepts and Web2Print."

Hidetoshi Omo, Head of Center of Competence, KM-1 at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, said: "Today, more than ever, inkjet and end-to-end digitized print production are growth engines for the entire printing industry. We are delighted that our long-standing partner Rehms Druck is joining us in opening a new chapter on the way to a sustainable and profitable future. Working in close partnership, we will continue to rethink possibilities and push the power of print. The opportunities with digital print are endless."

More room for creativity
As the successor to the AccurioJet KM-1, the AccurioJet KM-1e digital inkjet sheetfed press has expanded the possibilities of UV inkjet technology to offer almost unlimited possibilities for broadening current business areas and profitable print jobs. The existing, already extensive, substrate range has been further increased. It now includes other plastic and synthetic substrates, transparent films, coloured as well as hybrid, metallic media, and canvas. It also delivers enhanced colour quality, stability and extended colour gamut, all areas where new standards had been set by its predecessor.

With the new presses, Rehms Druck can now process an even wider range of media with outstanding quality results - from thin substrates to structured media or heavy cardboard. The expanded range of printable materials and the FOGRA59 certified colour space, provides customers with more room for creativity.

Greater flexibility – even for short runs
Rehms Druck is focusing on the growth market of packaging printing, which is why it looked for a digital cutting using laser technology solution. It chose the high-speed laser cutting system Motioncutter to enable it to meet the demand for ever shorter runs, and at the same time offer customers a high degree of flexibility for creative packaging design. Konica Minolta’s Motioncutter ensures fast, highly efficient cutting via a three-axis laser unit and a 40 mpm transfer system with a maximum paper size of 585 x 750 mm. Rehms Druck can now engrave, slit, cut, or perforate on wide variety of paper types and grammages, as well as wood, fiberglass, and many other materials with millimetre precision in B2+ format.