Konica Minolta has announced that Quality Printing, Inc., a family owned, full-service print shop in Luverne, MN, USA, has added an AccurioLabel 230 to expand its capabilities by offering attention-getting durable labels, including labels printed on self-adhesive papers, synthetics, and films.

Owned and operated since 1999 by Mark and Annie Opitz, Quality Printing employs nine staff members and prints everything from business cards, brochures and posters to large-format signage, vehicle graphics, banners and promotional items. It also provides finishing services. These include laminating and spiral binding – in addition to a copy center and complete in-house design services.

However, Quality Printing was still outsourcing specialty services, including labels.

As the owners looked toward building a lasting legacy for their son, Tony, they recognized that as offset printing has transitioned to digital printing, demand for offset printing has actually grown, supported by additional large-format customers transitioning to Quality Printing. The adoption of large-format printing in 2009 – with its flexibility of shorter print runs and faster turnaround times – expanded its capabilities and grew the business substantially. The company anticipates continued growth in both offset and large-format printing as its label business expands.

“Introducing large-format printing was a turning point for our business. It drove remarkable growth,” says Annie Opitz. “As we looked ahead to the future, we saw digital printing as the next strategic step to ensure continued success and create a strong foundation to eventually pass the business on to our son.”

Growing with labels

One of the key drivers behind Quality Printing’s expansion into label production was a strategic opportunity to better serve an existing client – a local case-ready pork processing plant. Already providing extensive signage for the facility, Quality Printing responded when the client expressed a need for a nearby label supplier. Recognizing the importance of meeting rigorous industry standards, the team embarked on a thorough search for the optimal digital label solution. They invested time educating themselves on the technical requirements, ensuring the labels would withstand both production line conditions and freezer environments.

“We explored several digital label press options, but Konica Minolta and their AccurioLabel 230 quickly stood out,” remarks Mark Opitz. “Their sales representative was highly responsive, visiting multiple times to address our questions thoroughly. The broader team also flew in to conduct on-site test runs, giving us full confidence in the press’ capabilities and the quality of label production we could achieve. It was evident that Konica Minolta was committed not just to delivering a product, but to building a lasting partnership.”

Customer service standouts

The AccurioLabel 230 is the third redesign of Konica Minolta’s popular label series of toner-based printers. It delivers speed enhancements of up to 76 fpm, produces labels on self-adhesive papers, synthetics and films, and offers user-friendly operation for consistently high-quality label output.

“Our customers appreciate our ability to provide high-quality, short-run labels with fast turnaround times,” notes Annie. “Since installing the AccurioLabel 230, we’ve seen growing interest from new and existing clients, including the pork processing plant, and are actively pursuing additional contracts. The versatility of the press has opened up new opportunities, and we’re excited to scale production – potentially adding a night shift to meet demand.”

“We’re thrilled to support Quality Printing in their transition to digital printing and to contribute our specialized expertise in label production,” adds Frank Mallozzi, president, IPP, Konica Minolta. “The AccurioLabel 230 serves as a robust entry point into our digital label portfolio, and we remain committed to helping Quality Printing maximize the value of their investment and achieve continued success with their new press.”