Konica Minolta provides Australian manufacturers with first look at revolutionary technology at National Manufacturing Week

May 7, 2018 – Konica Minolta is offering manufacturers a first look at revolutionary technology that will propel them into the future at National Manufacturing Week, from May 9-12 in Sydney.

Marc Brandon, 3D and Robotics Marketing Manager, Konica Minolta, said, “Konica Minolta is showcasing a new wave of technologies for Australian manufacturers that will accelerate operations and reshape businesses. These technologies – spanning additive manufacturing, material sciences, software, and robotics – are advancing and intersecting at such a rapid rate that they are for the first time, a reality for industry-leading organisations.”

Konica Minolta is partnering with 3D SYSTEMS to make 3D production a reality for the Australian manufacturing industry, with the new Figure 4™ system. This new, high-speed digital moulding system will redefine manufacturing by accelerating production, automating manufacturing processes and producing flexible and scalable production, through a new processing technology known as Digital Light Printing (DLP).

In an Australian-first preview, Konica Minolta will showcase the 3D SYSTEMS Figure 4 Standalone system, part of a wider family of Figure 4 technologies, at National Manufacturing Week 2018. These cutting edge DLP systems, deliver the industry’s first scalable, modular, fully-integrated 3D printing platform with ultra-fast speed, enabling throughput improvement up to 15 times and up to 20 per cent lower parts cost.

Matthew Hunter, National Manager 3D, Konica Minolta said, “Konica Minolta is already engaging with industry and organisations that are willing to partner with us in bringing this and other additive manufacturing production systems to the market. By working together, we can expedite its arrival, while leveraging Konica Minolta’s industry leading support capabilities, to the benefit of all manufacturers in Australia.”

Another technology that is making 3D production a reality and shifting how organisations operate is Direct Metal Printing (DMP). Victorian-based engineering company, Amiga Engineering recently installed the 3D SYSTEMS ProX 320 DMP metal printer and will be on the Konica Minolta stand, showcasing its new high-performance metal material output.

Matthew Hunter said, “Konica Minolta is excited about bringing this ground-breaking technology and new high-performance metal materials to the market, and we look forward to seeing how our customers use them to transform their business.”

Michael Bourchier, General Manager of Amiga Engineering and DMP Additive Manufacturing service bureau Metal3D.com.au said, “Amiga Engineering was closely following the growth of this technology and decided it was time to take the plunge into this concept area to grow it and expand the business. We have seen great traction in a short amount of time with customers and prospects in industries such as medical, dental, aerospace, and motorsports. This will help advance the industry as a whole by creating use cases and applications for the technology.”

Also as an exclusive preview for the Australian market will be the 3D SYSTEMS FabPro 1000, an entry-level industrial 3D printer ideal for engineering and jewellery production. The FabPro 1000 raises the bar for entry-level industrial 3D printing, producing high-quality parts with lightning speed, remarkably low operating costs, and unsurpassed ease of use.

 

Konica Minolta Starts Presale of Kunkun body, a Body Odor Measuring Solution, through Crowdfunding in Japan
Using an Odor Measuring Platform Developed Jointly with Osaka Institute of Technology

Tokyo (July 31, 2017) - Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) started presale of Kunkun body, a body odor measuring solution, in Japan on July 13, 2017, through Business Innovation Center (BIC) Japan, an organization responsible for developing new businesses in response to regional and market needs. In preselling the device, Konica Minolta is using the Makuake crowdfunding service (https://www.makuake.com/New Window), a platform which solicits support for innovative ideas.

For Kunkun body, Konica Minolta uses an odor measuring platform developed jointly with Osaka Institute of Technology through open innovation.

 

Presale of Kunkun body

Prior to the official launch, Konica Minolta started presale of Kunkun body on Thursday, July 13, 2017, using the Makuake crowdfunding service, a platform which solicits support for innovative ideas (https://www.makuake.com/New Window).

Makuake is the most accessed and one of the largest platforms in Japan and has supported about 2,500 projects to date, and thus will increase public recognition and understanding of Kunkun body.
By preselling Kunkun body, Konica Minolta aims to gauge the response of its supporters, and thus offer solutions to better address various social issues for the good of society.

Following the presale of Kunkun body, Konica Minolta will offer the device for trial use in the following facilities and stores:

  • Umeda campus of Osaka Institute of Technology
  • NEUTRALWORKS.TOKYO by Goldwin sportswear manufacturer in Kita-Aoyama
  • THE NORTH FACE + Grand Front Osaka store, MXP deodorant underwear section
  • Selected Loft stores

At Loft stores, Kunkun body will be on display in accordance with the following schedule.

  • August 5 (Sat.) - August 8 (Tue.), 2017
    Sendai Loft, next to the 2nd floor main entrance
  • August 5 (Sat.) - August 6 (Sun.), 2017
    Sapporo Loft, 6th floor, Esta
  • August 11 (Fri.) – August 13 (Sun.), 2017
    Senri Bampaku Loft, 1st floor, LaLaport EXPOCITY; Tenjin Loft, 2nd floor
  • July 16 (Sun.) – August 16 (Wed.), 2017
    Umeda Tsutaya Bookstore

Joint Development with Osaka Institute of Technology

Konica Minolta BIC Japan has been working to identify and examine social problems relating to odors from customers’ viewpoints to offer solutions to such problems to society.

Meanwhile, the Faculty of Robotics and Design of Osaka Institute of Technology has been studying ways of distinguishing different odors through neural network-based AI technology using gas sensors, led by Dr. Shigeru Omatsu, visiting professor.

By using several gas sensors, Konica Minolta BIC Japan and Osaka Institute of Technology jointly developed a technology to identify the characteristics of individual odors, learn the differences, and discriminate among different odors. The result is a new odor measuring platform.

The technology is effective not only for measuring body odors, but also for solving problems relating to odors with its ability to visualize odors around us.

Konica Minolta and Osaka Institute of Technology have been jointly developing the device and solutions to visualize odors by combining their respective technologies through open innovation and industry-university cooperation, enabling them to complete the process from planning to commercialization of Kunkun body in only two years or so.

Kunkun body

1. Value offered by Kunkun body

With its pioneering ability to measure body odors*, Kunkun body can display levels of three major body odors, namely sweat odor, old-age odor, and sebum (oil) skin odor unique to middle-aged people. Generally speaking, people cannot easily recognize their own odors; they become desensitized through prolonged exposure to the same smell, a phenomenon called odor masking. Kunkun body can easily measure such odors, reducing people’s anxiety about their own body odors that they cannot easily recognize.

2. Main features

Kunkun body, simply consisting of a device and a smartphone application, can measure odors of the scalp, armpits, skin behind the ears, and feet. Measured odor data are sent via Bluetooth and displayed in the smartphone app in 20 seconds or so. Odors are classified into 10 levels, allowing users to objectively decide whether they need to take some deodorizing measures, for example.

Under the brand proposition “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta remains committed to delivering services that offer new value to customers, helping achieve a better society and serving as a company that is vital to society.