Industrial Inkjet’s rapid expansion into Africa is gathering pace with Konica Minolta’s printheads helping to develop new business opportunities. Additional new African clients are set to sign with the company, known as IIJ, which announced its entrance into Africa in April of last year. The company is a world leader in the supply of inkjet solutions into a wide range of applications such as labels, packaging, document and security printing.

IIJ is also the official sales and technical support center for Konica Minolta inkjet products outside of Asia. It provides complete inkjet solutions based on Konica Minolta’s industrial printheads that are known for high print quality and reliability.

The latest Konica Minolta printhead family member is the KM1800i high speed, high-resolution piezo printhead. It uses the independent-channel technology proven in the KM1024i series and is designed to be used in high-quality single-pass print systems. It runs at print speeds up to 200 m/m at 600x600dpi. IIJ is rolling out this printhead in its new “HiQ” product family.

Durban-based Pieter Le Grange is spearheading the drive in Africa and opening up new applications across-the-board. Sales in the region so far range from the “retrofit” of inkjet modules onto existing flexo presses – to convert them into hybrid digital presses – all the way up to the supply of complete turn-key systems, including cameras for print verification and special security software. To this end, IIJ is increasingly working with AB Graphics presses.

“IIJ is really becoming a brand in its own right across Africa,” says Le Grange. “It’s developing an enviable reputation as an inkjet systems provider, coupled with providing fantastic back-up support. There are massive opportunities in Africa for IIJ to develop, particularly as so many printers don’t have huge funds for investment in expensive systems but want to provide a wider range of services.”

Traderplus is IIJ’s most high profile customer so far in Africa. Following the initial success of IIJ installations, the company has ordered two new IIJ ColourPrint engines – all part of a £2million investment to provide a “very customizable solution.”

John Corrall, managing director of IIJ, says: “The Africa market has proven to be a great opportunity for introducing our industrial inkjet systems that are proving ever-more popular at an increasing number of sites across the world. We have some further important installations in Africa, details of which we hope to announce soon.”