Konica Minolta transforms Winways Digitech

Winways Digitech has installed a second Konica Minolta
press, the AccurioLabel 400. This strategic investment
aims to meet the growing demand for customized labels
and short-run jobs while expanding the company’s market footprint and enhancing operational efficiency. The deal was sealed on the show floor of Labelexpo India in 2024.

Navigating the pandemic
Established in 2016, Winways began as a wide-format printing
provider, offering services on diverse substrates such as vinyl, flex, glass and wood, operating from a 5,000 sqft facility equipped with a locally manufactured flatbed press. However, the unforeseen arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted business. 

‘Everything was going smoothly until COVID-19 hit,’ recalls
Kartik Shah, founder of Winways Digitech. ‘During that period,
interest in home decor and interior beautification declined
drastically.’

Facing a steep drop in sales, the company’s future looked
uncertain. ‘We realized we couldn’t sustain ourselves in the long run without pivoting,’ Shah says. ‘By 2021, we decided to enter the label printing segment.’

As luck would have it, a major order came from a large
government-affiliated organization seeking label supply. It was
a breakthrough that validated the company’s new direction.

Embracing digital
Winways started its label journey with the Konica Minolta
AccurioLabel 230. Shah recalls, ‘We knew we had to take the digital route for our label business. When we were scouting for a digital label machine, we came across a couple of names, and Konica Minolta was one of them. We were satisfied with the way the company carried forward our conversation. It arranged visits and demos, and was always prompt in its responses.’

The investment significantly enhanced its label printing
capabilities. Shah shares: ‘With the Konica Minolta Accuriolabel 230, we boosted our printing capabilities and started producing self-adhesive labels.’

The decision to go digital proved beneficial for Winways. Many
brands preferred digital technology for its flexibility and ability to accommodate small quantities, allowing them to test the market before committing to larger volumes. It also met brands’ increasing demand for customization.

The AccurioLabel 230, Konica Minolta’s third-generation
toner-based press, features four-color printing, dual print widths (250 mm and 330 mm), and a speed of 18 m/min. The machine’s performance and Konica Minolta’s dedicated after-sales service convinced Winways to invest in the next-level AccurioLabel 400 in 2024.

“The startup culture has helped digital converters like us a lot. They prefer digital because pricing is
competitive, and the deliveries are quicker and more flexible”

Adding value in a startup-driven market
With an ever-burgeoning startup culture, investing in the
AccurioLabel 400 was well-timed. However, it was not before
Winways tried its hand at flexo. ‘After our first machine, we bought a flexo press. But it didn’t help us much as we were targeting new customers who were just entering the market or had entered in the past couple of years,’ notes Shah.

‘New entrants and startups tend to seek converters who can
handle short-run jobs. For them, digital is the best bet,’ Shah
says. ‘The startup culture has helped digital converters like us
a lot. Startups prefer digital because pricing is competitive, and the deliveries are quicker and more flexible.’

Winways today caters to brands from the beauty, food and
beverage industries.

Talking more about the press, Vijay Kamat, product manager
of IP business development department at Konica Minolta, shares: ‘The acquisition of Konica Minolta’s AccurioLabel 400 by Winways Digitech at Labelexpo India 2024 is a strategic move to boost its digital label printing capabilities. This press is known for its efficiency and high-quality output, making it suitable for producing customized, short-run labels quickly and reliably.

‘This investment will likely give Winways a competitive edge in
meeting diverse client demands with greater flexibility and speed. The AccurioLabel 400 is a 4-color plus white machine with a web width of 320 mm. It runs at 40 m/min for a CMYK and about 30 m/min for a CMYK plus white printing.’

With the new Konica Minolta in the house, Winways
anticipates strong growth in the digital label printing sector
in the upcoming years.