Komori Corporation (Sumida-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Satoshi Mochida) is pleased to announce the completion of the third renewal of the Komori Graphic Technology Center (KGC) in the Tsukuba Plant in October 2024, and the start of operations as a virtual smart factory for printing plants (KGC Smart Factory).

                                                                      KGC Smart Factory reopens after renovation

The printing industry is facing diversifying needs, including small lots and short delivery times as well as increasing material and energy costs and challenges in securing human resources. In this environment, flexible responses and changes are required to ensure stable profitability and contribute to a sustainable society.

Komori believes that promoting the smart factory, which improves not only the productivity of individual machines but also the overall productivity of printing plants, is key to transforming the industry.

Defining Komori's purpose as Delivering Kando “beyond expectations” by contributing to society with print technology, in October 2024 Komori completed the third renewal of KGC, which is responsible for research and development, demonstrations, and education on print technology, and opened the KGC Smart Factory as a virtual smart factory for printing plants.

The KGC Smart Factory is equipped with a central control room that tracks the progress of all printing processes in real time on multiple large monitors. Komori’s Manufacturing Execution System (MES) KP-Connect Pro enables scheduling and real-time collection of progress information across all processes, allowing factory managers to centrally monitor and issue instructions for the entire plant from the central control room.

                               The “central control room” that tracks the progress of all printing processes in real time

In addition to visualization via the central control room, KGC promotes the automation of the entire print workflow within the factory. Connected Automation, Komori’s smart factory concept, uses KP-Connect Pro as the core software to automatically link all printing workflows, from scheduling, prepress, press (offset and digital printing), postpress, color management, quality inspection to in-house logistics. A smart factory that covers all processes cannot be built by Komori alone, but requires collaboration with partner companies in each stage. In 2016, the KP-Connect Alliance Program was launched with key manufacturers and vendors. With this KGC renewal, visitors can see the achievements of Connected Automation developed in cooperation with alliance program member companies.

                                             CTP sorting equipment and Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) to carry printing plates

The printing plant envisioned by the KGC Smart Factory integrates workers and automated systems to maximize added value productivity. To support people, the source of added value in the factory, KGC Printing College has traditionally provided hands-on training, seminars, and e-learning centered on printing machines. Moving forward, the scope of the educational curriculum will be expanded to include the construction and operation of smart factories.

                                                      Open space for communication and new conference room

With this renewal, KGC will establish its role as an open innovation hub where printing companies, alliance companies, and Komori work together to maximize the productivity of printing plants and contribute to the development of the printing industry.

*1 KP-Connect Alliance Program

A partnership program launched in May 2016 to improve the productivity of printing companies and optimize the entire print value chain by connecting products from each process to KP-Connect. We will continue to actively promote the Alliance Program in the future to improve printing company profitability.