Konica Minolta and finishing specialist Horizon have signed an agreement to build a new production workflow that integrates the solutions of both companies. The collaboration is aimed at helping print providers more seamlessly connect the production process from digital printing to finishing, and advance automation and labor savings at print production sites. A first look at the results in action will be shared at Horizon Smart Factory 2026, November 4-6, in Japan.
At the heart of the cooperation is the link between Konica Minolta’s AccurioPro Flux and Horizon’s iCE LiNK. AccurioPro Flux is Konica Minolta’s print workflow software for production printing. iCE LiNK connects finishing machines with the print shop’s workflow software, such as MIS and prepress systems. This makes job and production data easy to track, helps set up machines automatically according to job requirements, and supports an efficient flow of materials.Under the agreement, job information and finishing instructions are passed as data from Konica Minolta’s AccurioPro Flux print workflow software to Horizon’s iCE LiNK. The result is a flow in which finishing is prepared before printing starts, and print completion acts as the signal to move on to the next step.
From the Intelligent Press to a connected production flow
The collaboration extends the thinking behind Konica Minolta’s The Intelligent Press an autonomous printing function that detects printing conditions and automatically updates settings.
In parallel, the companies are developing transport between processes by combining Horizon’s autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and hand lifters with Konica Minolta’s high-capacity stacker LS-507. The aim is flexible automation that adapts easily to changes in equipment layout and production content.
What it means for print providers
For print providers the collaboration targets the points between processes where time and margin are usually lost. Job information and finishing instructions that already exist in the print workflow are passed to finishing as data. This means finishing can be prepared before printing begins rather than after it, so each job moves on as soon as printing is complete. It also reduces manual data entry and the risk of errors at hand-over.
Autonomous transport is being developed to carry printed products from the press to the next finishing step in line with job progress, taking heavy, repetitive handling off staff. With less waiting and fewer manual hand-overs, operators can focus on higher value-added work, and print providers can optimize production.
