Both South African printing companies and clients embracing digital colour printing are in excellent hands, as the country now boasts two recipients of the much valued and rare Konica Minolta Diploma in Colour.
National service trainer at Bidvest company, Konica Minolta South Africa, Mario de Carvalho, recently joined his colleague, Leon Minnie, to become one of only 15 international achievers of this qualification. Minnie completed his qualification in 2007.
The sought-after diploma provides its receivers with the competencies to meet the digital world's demand for reliable services and expert consultancy in standardised results and colour output. The result is that customers benefit from highly consistent print quality and clearly defined quality standards through sophisticated colour manipulation.
About the qualification, one of the first diploma holders and now assessor, Bernd Scheibner at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, says: “The diploma is the highest certification of Konica Minolta's professional education, which is second to none in its design and scope in the entire printing market.”
According to De Carvalho, potential candidates need the motivation as well as the passion for colour and technology to advance through the immense online academic and eventual practical examinations.
As a specialist in desktop publishing, colour issues, normal calibration and Fiery reloading - a technology that allows for the simulation and manipulation of colour to achieve true colour - De Carvalho had to pass more than 100 online exams to reach certification levels such as Outward Associate, Professional, Expert Colour, Master of Colour and an additional Expert level. Once these exams were completed, he was invited to Japan for a practical three-day exam.
“The study towards the qualification has significantly broadened my knowledge and experience of digital printing. A great advantage is that - through the process of achieving the qualification - I have been exposed to the latest and most sophisticated technology in Japan, thereby equipping me with the best professional answers and troubleshooting expertise within the present and future digital colour environment.
“In my role as a trainer to customers from a user aspect and fellow personnel from a technical aspect, the Diploma in Colour further allows me to add greater value to the skills and knowledge shared,” says De Carvalho.
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Konica Minolta South Africa
Konica Minolta South Africa, wholly owned by the Bidvest Group, stands at the forefront of business solution providers as the principal importer and distributor of the innovative and award winning Konica Minolta range of bizhub digital multifunctional colour and black-and-white devices, laser printers, fax machines and business solutions, into South Africa as well as Namibia, Malawi, Botswana and Swaziland. Konica Minolta South Africa's head office is based in Johannesburg and its distribution network is supported by 14 branches and 43 dealerships. With an operational stance of consultative business partnering, the group provides clients with holistic document management solutions: through pre-sales analysis, audits to sales, installation, ongoing onsite technical and software management as well as the supply of spare parts and consumables.
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