News Release for Archive 2007

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. Inc.
Date Posted: 03 July 2007

Konica Minolta bizhub MFPs Recognized as "Most Reliable" by Office Products Analyst

Konica Minolta Garnered Three Awards for Light Production Colour, Graphics Colour and Office Colour

RAMSEY, NJ and ROCHESTER, NY - July 3, 2007 -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced that its bizhub™ and bizhub PRO™ digital colour multifunctional products (MFPs - print, copy, fax, and scan all in one system) garnered the top awards for reliability in three key product segments - Colour Light Production, Graphics Color, and Office Colour - in the recent annual Print for Pay customer study conducted by Office Products Analyst, the longest running, continuously published publication that focuses exclusively on the office automation industry.

The awards are further validation that Konica Minolta bizhub MFPs continue to set the agenda across the MFP industry. Konica Minolta, which in March introduced its next-generation bizhub line headlined by the C550 MFP to great fanfare, beat out several rivals to earn the accolades. The study findings are the results of an independent intense survey of more than 200 end users.

"Each year, we conduct a study in which we ask commercial printers across the United States to rate the imaging equipment they use on a daily basis," said Andy Slawetsky, president, Industry Analysts, Inc., publisher of Office Products Analyst. "Over the years, we've found these to be some of the most demanding customers when it comes to rating equipment they use on a daily basis. Surveys were completed via extensive telephone interviews with hundreds of customers. After a thorough validation process, we were left with 207 commercial printers and 20 publishing houses in our sample."

This year, Konica Minolta scored as most reliable in the following categories:

• Colour Light Production, where Print for Pay customers also gave Konica Minolta highest marks in other critical categories such as Image Quality and Features.
• Graphics Colour, where Print for Pay customers also gave Konica Minolta the highest marks in another key category, Best Colour Matching, critical to graphic arts customers.
• Office Colour, where Print for Pay customers also gave Konica Minolta the highest marks in another key category, Best Colour Matching.

"Production printing, both high-speed colour and monochrome, is an area of strategic emphasis for Konica Minolta," said Bill Brewster, vice president, marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. "To have captured the top spot in three important print for pay and commercial printing segments is an achievement of which we are justifiably proud. Konica Minolta believes reliability to be critical to success in a market where our devices are revenue generators, and must perform when called upon to meet customer demands for excellent colour at an affordable price delivered in a timely manner. These awards give clear evidence as to why our market share in production printing has enjoyed significant growth in recent years."

"Konica Minolta devices beat out rivals from Canon, HP and Xerox," said Slawetsky. "Based on feedback from customers, anyone in the market for reliable colour light production printing devices should strongly consider one from Konica Minolta."

About Konica Minolta Business Solutions (Canada) Ltd.

Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Konica Minolta Business Solutions (Canada) Ltd. brings together the strengths of its two founding companies and is dedicated to providing customers with comprehensive solutions for their document imaging, creation, production, and management requirements. KONICA MINOLTA offers companies and organizations the essentials of imaging suited for small-office environments through large production operations with a full line of digital colour and multifunction peripherals, desktop laser printers, plain-paper facsimile machines, print production systems, software and network solutions, and professional services.

An industry leader in business solutions, imaging technology, and multifunction products, KONICA MINOLTA delivers world-class service through its extensive network of direct sales offices and authorized dealers throughout Canada. For more information, please visit www.konicaminolta.ca.

About Industry Analysts, Inc.

Industry Analysts, Inc. (IA, Inc.) is a market research and product testing firm specializing in the imaging industry. Founded in 1974, IA, Inc. provides "real-world" third party testing and evaluations, market research and focus groups from offices in Rochester NY and Fairfield NJ.

Konica Minolta is a trademark of Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. bizhub and bizhub PRO are trademarks of Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.