●Established the Komori Printing School in 1968, launching systematic printing education.

●Opened the Komori Graphic Technology Center (KGC) in 2009, integrating four functions: Demonstration Center, Printing College, R&D Center, and Training Center.

●Renewed KGC in 2014, strengthening integrated printing solutions combining offset, digital, and workflow technologies.

●Introduced IoT and online information services, launching the KGC website in 2019 and KGC News in 2023.

●Conducted a third renewal in 2024, launching KGC Smart Factory, a virtual smart printing factory.

The origin of KGC, the birth of Komori Printing School

In September 1968, Komori Corporation inaugurated the Komori Printing School, marking a groundbreaking development in the printing press industry. The school was established to enrich participants' expertise in printing technology and customer service.

It offered tailored courses ranging from 6 to 11 full days of education for newcomers to offset printing, individuals with insufficient hands-on experience, and seasoned operators seeking foundational theory knowledge. In partnership with Kyodo Printing, Komori assembled a team of skilled instructors to lead the training.

Initially held quarterly, these sessions became monthly from January 1970 onwards, attracting a broader audience. The curriculum was meticulously designed to balance theoretical knowledge with practical skills, ensuring participants could produce high-quality print materials.

The school's effective combination of hands-on practice using Komori's various printing presses with theoretical backing, delivered by expert instructors, garnered widespread acclaim, epitomizing Komori's dedication to practical education enriched by theoretical insight.

Opening of Komori Graphic Technology Center

In 2009, Komori Corporation marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of its new Tsukuba Plant, which included the launch of the advanced Komori Graphic Technology Center (KGC), located on the eastern end of the complex.

On October 10 of that year, Komori held a distinguished unveiling ceremony, inviting customers, clients, and industry partners to witness this significant expansion. During the event, then-President Yoshiharu Komori delivered the following remarks:

"The KGC has been established as a comprehensive facility dedicated to advancing printing-related technologies. KGC functions as a pivotal hub for disseminating information to the industry and its clientele. It integrates a variety of operations, including joint research with partners in the printing sector and academic institutions, product demonstrations, technical training, and knowledge management. Komori hopes that through these functions, the facility will become an entity that promotes the growth of the printing industry."

KGC is designed with four core functions: Demonstration Center, Printing College, Printing R&D Center, and Training Center as a service training facility.

The Demonstration Center is a dynamic space where customers can interact directly with Komori's systems and evaluate the products firsthand. This center offers an extensive range of demonstrations, showcasing capabilities such as value-added printing, one-pass printing for high productivity, efficient changeovers between jobs, quality checks, and environmental sustainability measures.

The Printing College is committed to educating customers about the intricacies of printing and printing technology. It offers a wide range of courses designed to cater to various skill levels, from beginners to experienced professionals and executives. The curriculum spans from general knowledge about offset printing to specific press operation and maintenance details.

The college also provides specialized, intensive courses focusing on particular techniques, operations, or adjustments, offering a focused and detailed learning experience.

The Printing R&D Center is integral to Komori's innovation efforts, focusing on the research and development of new technologies. This center not only conducts fundamental research on printing technology but also develops solutions tailored to meet customer needs.

The center's active collaborations with printing materials and peripheral equipment manufacturers help pioneer new products and technologies. Additionally, the center engages in industry-academia collaborations and public-private partnerships, demonstrating its active research activities.

Through these initiatives, Komori sought to foster the growth of the printing industry and enrich printing culture while simultaneously advancing the development of the Group.

　
Demonstration to customers, Printing College, offering education on printing

Seeking to embody the management philosophy, To be a Company that inspires Customer Kando, the KGC was established as the cornerstone institution within the Group. Dedicated to advancing printing and printing machinery technology, as well as fostering skill development, it operates with an inclusive approach, welcoming not only Komori's internal teams but also extending its resources to customers and all stakeholders within the printing industry.

Renewal opening of KGC

Over the five years since its inception in 2009, KGC has witnessed a significant transformation in the landscape of the printing industry. Gone are the days when addressing customers' concerns and societal demands relied solely on traditional offset printing methods.

Today, the industry clamors for versatile solutions encompassing digital printing technologies, holistic services spanning from printing to subsequent processes, and advancements in printing machinery to elevate both quality and productivity.

In response to the dynamic challenges within the printing industry, Komori has undertaken the initiative to transition into a Print Engineering Service Provider (PESP). This strategic shift entails the development of a comprehensive printing system to address diverse needs and demands.

Aligned with this trend, KGC underwent enhancements and reopened its doors in 2014. Serving as a hub for addressing customer needs, fostering innovation, and generating added value, KGC now provides an extensive array of solutions.

The four original functions established at its inception, Demonstration Center, Printing College, Printing R&D Center, and Training Center, have been consolidated and fortified as follows.

The Demonstration Center serves as a virtual printing facility, allowing customers to thoroughly assess printing functions, performance, and sample quality of machines under consideration for purchase.

The Printing College has undergone a transformation into a robust training center. Through immersive, hands-on training sessions, it empowers customers to refine their printing prowess and nurture their talent pool.

Moreover, the college offers on-site diagnostics and consulting services tailored to specific requirements, featuring a finely tailored curriculum suitable for individuals at all organizational levels, from novices to seasoned printing industry leaders.

The enhancement of the Printing R&D Center is a pivotal development worth highlighting. Expanding its scope beyond printing machinery, the center has diversified its research and development efforts to encompass printing materials as well.

These materials, tailored for compatibility with Komori's printing presses, such as H-UV inks, printing rollers, cleaning fluid, and dampening solutions, have been meticulously curated for commercialization as K-Supply products.

To propel these solutions forward, Komori initiated global promotional campaigns. While a knowledge bank function was previously established to disseminate information on cutting-edge printing technologies across its four bases in Japan, the U.S., the Netherlands, and China, Komori has now extended KGC functions to its three overseas bases, fortifying its support infrastructure with advanced technologies.

This strategic decision reflects Komori's commitment to not only advancing its own interests but also fostering the broader progression of printing technology on a global scale.

With the reopening of KGC, Komori aimed to provide visitors with an experience of Komori's revamped business strategy and corporate initiatives through a comprehensive printing system encompassing "offset + digital + workflow + printing materials and equipment."

The goal was to showcase Komori's firm commitment to collaboratively shaping the printing industry's future alongside its customers.

KGC has implemented a series of IoT-driven initiatives. In 2019, the launch of the KGC website aimed to swiftly address customer inquiries and problems, and provide access to the latest technology and information, supporting the cultivation of human resources from newcomers to seasoned professionals.

Subsequently, in 2023, introducing KGC News on the same platform further enriched the dissemination of educational content, cutting-edge technology updates, and R&D insights.

With a steadfast commitment to empowering customers and optimizing printing operations, Komori has diligently pursued this vision, gradually shaping its endeavors to facilitate skill enhancement and operational efficiency.　

　
Renewed and reopened KGC in 2014

Third Renewal of KGC

In 2024, Komori completed the third renewal of KGC, and the facility began operations as a virtual smart factory for printing plants (KGC Smart Factory). 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, enabling operators to grasp work progress at a glance. All functions of the central control room are managed by Komori's Manufacturing Execution System (MES) KP-Connect Pro, which collects and analyzes schedules and progress information in real time to enhance productivity and elevate quality control. Moving forward, KGC will continue to evolve as an open innovation hub where printing companies, alliance companies, and Komori work together to maximize the productivity of printing plants.