Konica Minolta introduced the AccurioShine 3600 in June this year, a simple, compact and affordable digital embellishment press that provides sensory print applications for printers of every size

The AccurioShine 3600 digital print embellishment press has been designed to bring digital special effects to the mainstream of the commercial printing, finishing, and packaging industries. This press utilizes key components of the JETvarnish 3D digital embellishment technologies including the intelligent and adaptive AIS SmartScanner registration system, which feature both sheet and roll-fed solutions for every business model.

The new AccurioShine 3600 joins Konica Minolta and MGI’s existing series of sheet-fed and roll-fed digital special effects presses, which feature 2D/3D UV dimensional textures as standalone finishing hubs for digital, offset, gravure and flexo printed materials.

The small operational footprint of the AccurioShine 3600 allows printers, finishers and converters to have an in-house full production and prototyping print embellishment system without screens, dies or plates. The all-purpose patented varnish formula allows both flat 2D Spot UV highlighting and sculptured 3D raised special effects on a wide range of substrate stocks and 135 to 450gsm, from the offset and digital inks to lamination films and aqueous coatings

The cost-effective price point and automatic inkjet head cleaning technology, along with the AIS SmartScanner intelligent registration system, create a simple, convenient path for developing new digital finishing applications and diverse new application-based revenue streams.

The AccurioShine 3600 features a closed/circuit system, leaves no ink or varnish residue, and is designed to prevent any cleaning or material waste between jobs, helping to reduce paper, varnish and electrical consumption.

The intuitive software suite and touchscreen interface manages jobs and maintenance with ease. The job cost calculator can evaluate images, and forecast varnish consumption and costs before production starts. Job files can be edited directly at the workstation using the spot varnish editor graphical tool that enables operators to modify jobs without going back to prepress.

The Artificial Intelligence Smartscanner (AIS) uses artificial intelligence to create an automatic varnish registration over the pre-printed sheet, reducing setup time by more than 80% and minimising make-ready waste. Without operator intervention, the AIS makes corrections and adjustments for any defects generated in the original offset or digital print process, including sheet and image skew, shift, stretch or contraction.

The Corona Treatment System (CTS) uses an electric charge to add micro-pitting to surfaces to prepare them for coating. Micro-pitting can increase wettability and adhesion, making it possible to add varnish on top of a wider variety of substrates. Inserted after the paper feeder module, the CTS also contains an optional ozone cabinet, keeping the workplace clean by eliminating the need for ozone ducts. Depending on media and factors such as temperature and humidity, the CTS may not improve adhesion.

The barcode scanner on the press can make job changes by reading barcodes from a pre-printed sheet and instantly selecting the corresponding TIFF file already stored on the workstation.

The AIS Lighting for Metallized Substrates option enables the AccurioShine 3600 to register foil and metallic surfaces accurately. Although the AIS is equipped as standard with highly effective lighting for the vast majority of preprinted media, some substrates with metallic properties require specialised lighting to reduce glare.

The AccurioShine 3600 provides printers with the ability to generate more high-impact printed communications and decorative embellishments on all commercial and in-plant applications including Books, Book Covers, Magazines, Brochures, Offer on-demand printing and embellishment, Greeting Cards, Business Cards, Exclusive Invitations, Packaging, Cartons, Direct Mail and Postcards.

Other applications include Personalised calendars, VIP tickets, Point-of-purchase and promotional materials, Sheet-fed labels, Menus etc.