Inkjet printing specialist Konica Minolta Inc a Japanese technology company headquartered in Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, with offices in 49 countries worldwide has opened a new EUR5m (US$5.7m) textile innovation centre at Como, near Milan in Italy, in the heart of Europe's textile printing operations.

Akiyoshi Ohno, Konica Minolta Inkjet Division former President and now Senior Advisor said that with their brand proposition, Giving Shape To Ideas, they remain firmly committed to innovations in the manufacturing process in the textile market by offering higher-performance, environmentally friendly products, and helping customers enhance their corporate value, while joining the global effort to reduce environmental threats.

This investment in a new training, education and demonstration centre is a real and practical commitment. They’re deadly serious about this market and helping customers to maximize the opportunities in this fast-emerging market of textile printing. It is also another practical example of Konica Minolta’s ongoing commitment to innovations in manufacturing processes in the textile market.

Enrico Verga, Chief Operating Officer for Konica Minolta IJ Textile Europe, added that initial reaction has been extremely positive to their new Innovation Centre, which will not only provide demonstrations of their world-class technology, but is also an important training and educational facility in the growing textile inkjet printing market. They look forward to welcoming printers from not only the local area, but also right across Europe and beyond.

The Konica Minolta IJ Textile Europe Demonstration and Training Centre at Bregnano, Como, features three of the world’s most advanced printing systems for the textile market – the Konica Minolta Nassenger SP-1, Nassenger 8 and Nassenger 10.

The SP-1 is a high-productivity, high-resolution inkjet textile printer employing a single-pass system. It’s characterized by advanced features such as ultra high-speed, high productivity and high resolution, made possible by the OEM’s expertise in printheads, printing mechanisms and inks. The Konica Minolta Nassenger 10 and Nassenger 8 models are scan-type, high-speed and medium-speed inkjet textile printers.

The three models give customers a wider range of options and are will be formally launched at the ITMA International Textile Machine exhibition in Milan November 12-19.