Komori Named Global Supplier for Landa Presses

REHOVOT, ISRAEL—Landa Corp. and Komori Corp. have announced the strengthening of their strategic relationship. The companies had collaborated during Landa's development of Nanography, with Komori providing sheetfed platforms for Landa's launch of Nanographic printing at drupa 2012. The companies have now formalized their long-term strategic alliance by entering into multi-faceted agreements in which Komori will be the global supplier for all sheetfed Landa Nanographic printing press platforms. Landa will also provide Komori with Nanographic printing technology and Landa NanoInk colorants for incorporation into Komori-branded Nanographic printing presses.

Since drupa, Landa engineers have been evaluating proposals from the industry's leading press vendors, both European and Asian, for supply of sheetfed platforms for Landa Nanographic printing presses. In making its assessment, Landa says it took into account caliber of engineering, robustness of design, automation, reliability and cost effectiveness. The vendor's culture of innovation, technical resources, commercial success and financial stability were also important criteria.

Landa Corp. felt that Komori is "in a class of its own and the clear partner of choice for Landa." The conclusion prompted Landa to place orders with Komori for sheetfed platforms for its S10 Nanographic printing presses, which will start to be delivered to customers in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Following a lengthy technology diligence period, during which Komori scientists and engineers studied, evaluated and tested Landa Nanographic printing technology, Komori concluded that Nanography has the potential to deliver on its promise of matching the quality and speed of offset printing at the lowest cost per page in the digital printing industry. Komori therefore formalized its license agreement with Landa, cementing the long-term strategic alliance between the companies.

Landa Founder, Chairman and CEO Benny Landa said, "Since we first started our collaboration with Komori, we have been deeply impressed by the company, its people and its culture. Komori is an outstanding partner for Landa, bringing an extremely high caliber of engineering expertise, second-to-none quality and performance, together with a fervent commitment and willingness to invest in the future. It is gratifying to have as our strategic partner the one global press vendor that continues to thrive despite the challenges faced by the industry."

In an interview with Printing Impressions following the announcement, Landa noted that Komori's financial position was among a number of factors that tilted in its favor.

"We absolutely have to have a vendor that we know has the financial strength to support us long-term, and whose business is doing well, because we are wholly dependent on the vendor for our machines," he said. "That's a significant factor.

"We are unlikely to have additional sheetfed vendors in addition to Komori."

Landa noted that progress with the press is being realized practically on a daily basis. With 12 months to go before the first machine is delivered, he is confident the press will perform as advertised.

"We have the tail of that quality curve going up every day," he said. "We are very confident we will reach that perfection we promised customers, in time for our first beta machines to be delivered Q4, 2014."

Yoshiharu Komori, Komori Corp. president, chairman and CEO, noted, "It is a great honor to be able to cooperate with Landa in bringing Nanography to market. Our teams have been closely monitoring Landa's development and have been amazed with the progress made so far, which exceeds our expectations. We believe that the impact of Benny Landa's new invention, Nanography—with the Komori platform—will have a far greater impact even than his introduction of the first digital printing press."