A strategic partnership to help increase printer client’s profits has been launched by Konica Minolta and Vpress.

Initially just in the UK, the union will build on Konica Minolta’s acquisition of Charterhouse last autumn, where Vpress already works with the print management company.

Customers will be offered the cloud-based web to print software, Coreprint, which is already being used by 1500 clients worldwide. Templates are set up for every print item, which can be accessed online, made ready for print and then fed directly to a printer. This process substantially cuts production costs by dramatically streamlining manual processes, according to Vpress.  The service integrates with production workflows, MIS, CRM or other accounts packages such as Sage, and ERP systems, and can be fully managed by Vpress or accessed by the client on a ‘click’ charge basis without using servers.

‘The market driven decision to formalise into a strategic agreement where customers can enable their businesses through e-procurement is key to a win-win situation for both companies,’ said Mark Hinder, Konica Minolta’s market development manager for production printing. ‘This is an important and big step forward in our business. Linking with Vpress enables us to develop a business model where we can offer a low cost entry web to print solution that is totally scalable for customers, providing additional profitable revenue opportunities for our customers.’

Tim Cox, managing director of Vpress, said, ‘This is a cohesive strategy going forward benefiting both companies. We were courted by a number of manufacturers, but Konica Minolta, who we have worked with many times before on projects, was the best fit and is a perfect partner. This digital solutions provider took the medium range printer market by storm and has kept it. As a company, it has a very consultative approach, which is also really important to us.  It’s not a case of selling a box, their teams want to learn about their clients’ business and how and what they can do to help. We are extremely pleased to be working with a company that shares our core values to enable a customer’s business.’

Konica Minolta has also enhanced its flagship bizhub Press 8000. The 8000e was shown at North Print & Pack for the first time. It features new, faster Fiery controllers and improved connectivity to other systems.