Konica Minolta

Konica History

Konica traces its history back to 1873 when Rokusaburo Sugiura began selling photographic
materials at his Tokyo apothecary. By the start of the 20th century, the company had developed its first camera and range of photographic products. In 1971, Konica released Japan’s first plain paper photocopier, developing a dominant position in high-speed, high quality document management systems and imaging products.

Minolta History

Minolta was founded in 1928 to initially manufacture cameras and then went on to pioneer technologies including a latent image transfer system, the world’s first magnification and reduction photocopier and the world’s first photocopier to produce two-colour images in a single pass. Minolta has suceeded in establishing a strong global presence as a pioneer in the field of high quality imaging technology.

For more than 120 years, the Konica Minolta names have been synonymous with quality and leadership, company highlights include:

1873 Company begins selling photographic materials in Japan
1937 World's first double lens reflex camera
1946 World's first camera with a coated lens
1962 Hi-Matic camera used by astronaut John Glen on Friendship 7
1975 World's first copier to use latent image transfer
1983 World's first single pass two-colour copier
1991 World's first three-colour combination copier and fax
1996 World's first digital multifunction machine
2001 World's first polymerized toner™
2003 Launched first hi-speed 31 page per minute colour machine utilising 'new' polymerized toner™
2003 Konica Minolta Holdings Inc established