Konica Minolta develops dedicated label segment

Konica Minolta has long been known as an entry-level press
technology supplier, catering to small label converters and
companies new to digital label printing.

The company is now seeking to change that reputation.

Over the past year, Konica Minolta has been building out its label segment into a standalone department. The company has been hiring experienced professionals from the label industry, hosting open houses to highlight its label commitment and presenting its label technology portfolio in a new way. The goal is to expand its label customer base, from small converters to mid-market ones in the 5-15 million USD range as well.

‘Konica, for the longest time, has really undervalued or undersold what it’s capable of,’ says Michael Cox, director of category strategy for labels and packaging at Konica Minolta. ‘We should be playing in those mid-market accounts, just as much as anybody else should be.’

At the heart of this new approach is an enhanced focus on its AccurioLabel 400 digital press, alongside strengthened sales and customer service teams for its label segment.

‘We’re putting our money on labels. That’s why we created the entire program, infrastructure and support just for the label segment, and separated it from the rest of the business,’ says Ashley Gorfine, vice president, North America, industrial print channel, Konica Minolta.

Technology

Konica Minolta offers three digital label presses.

The company launched its more entry-level AccurioLabel 230 at Labelexpo Europe 2019, and released its AccurioLabel 400 in 2023. This latter machine is a modular, flexible, CMYK+white press. Cox describes it as easy to use and maintain with a robust engine, and available at an attractive price point.

At Loupe Americas 2026, Konica Minolta launched its AccurioLabel 231, designed for entry- to mid-production label environments. It offers a longer engine life and maintenance intervals than the 230.

Konica Minolta’s JetVarnish 3D Web 400, also for the label segment, is a modular digital embellishment machine capable of digital spot UV varnish and hot foil embellishments.

‘Most of the time, people have just considered Konica Minolta an entry-level press; it’s how you build your label business, not how you grow your label business,’ Cox says. ‘No, quite the contrary. We believe you can grow your label business with your AccurioLabel 400 specifically.’

New hires

To strengthen its expertise as it builds its label segment, Konica Minolta has been hiring experienced label professionals.

Its label segment’s dedicated sales team has grown by about 40 percent over the past year, while its label support team has grown by about 25 percent.

“In 2026, our strategy is almost a reintroduction of the Konica Minolta brand”

Some notable label hires include Kent Wolford, who joined
Konica Minolta in January 2026 as area vice president, industrial print packaging and labels. He brings 25 years of industry experience. Konica Minolta hired Bryan Topham as its director of industrial print business development and channel strategy in September of 2025. Topham has more than 10 years of label experience. Cox himself, who has been in the label industry for 25 years, was hired in December of 2025.

‘In 2026, our strategy is almost a reintroduction of the Konica
Minolta brand,’ Cox says.

Open houses

Konica Minolta’s new label strategy has motivated a series of open houses that the company has held over the past year at its Client Engagement Center in Ramsey, New Jersey.

Its most recent open house, on May 5, 2026, attracted the largest attendance yet, with 56 attendees from 42 companies.

While most attendees were commercial printers, more than half of participants expressed interest in labels.

The event saw introductory remarks from Sam Errigo, president and CEO of Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA, and Michael Mathé, executive vice president and chief operating officer. Frank Mallozzi, president of industrial print packaging at Konica Minolta, then gave an overview of Konica Minolta’s presence in different print segments and highlighted the support Konica Minolta provides to customers.

The open house’s keynote speaker, Marco Boer of IT Strategies, gave a presentation on the challenges and opportunities facing the print industry. He noted that while the label industry’s growth has been flat over the past few years, he predicts the segment will soon see a nine percent CAGR due to GS1 Sunrise 2027 and the retail industry’s commitment to implementing 2D barcodes.

Following Boer’s presentation and a customer panel he
moderated, attendees broke up into groups to see demonstrations of Konica Minolta technology, including the AccurioLabel 230, AccurioLabel 400 and the Jet Varnish 3D Web 400.

‘Konica Minolta knows where the market is headed in labels, and we want to stay ahead of it,’ Gorfine says.