FRIDAYS WITH FRANK: KYOCERA's Dustin Graupman

The Cannata Report's Founder Frank G. Cannata talks inkjet technology with Dustin Graupman, senior director of Kyocera's Ink Jet Division, who explains the value of its TASKalfa Pro 15000c flagship product in terms of affordable color and an affordable acquisition price. With the 2026 edition of PRINTING United Expo coming in less than two weeks, two new configurations will be on the show floor in Las Vegas: 1. the TASKalfa Pro Tandem, which features two print engines and print speeds in the 300-ppm range; and the TASK Alfa Pro 15000b, which is a monochrome device. 2. Why monochrome, you ask? Because Kyocera's market intelligence indicates that the number of customers outputting in black-and-white far outnumbers its color engine users by a ratio of three or four to one, Graupman reveals. Why Kyocera is "positioned to win!" Considering that Kyocera Document Solutions America, Inc. has only been in the production printing game for a little more than six years, Cannata commends the OEM's success with the 15000c. Graupman stresses the importance of dealer relationships. Frank goes on to speculate that wide format could be a natural fit for Kyocera expansion; Graupman emphasizes the OEM's technological leadership with its piezoelectric printheads, which he believes position the company to not only compete but to win. The piezo heads can be employed in numerous ways, including in textile printing. Already available in Japan and, soon, in Europe, Kyocera's FOREARTH textile printer may be headed to the Americas, too. But first, watch for the TASKalfa Pro 55000c, which is coming to the United States in early 2027, according to Graupman. The new cut-sheet device brings high-end brochure, direct mail, and postcard printing on a range of coated paper stocks, which he calls the "Holy Grail" for inkjet. For the latest news on inket printing technology and office technology, go to: https://www.thecannatareport.com The Cannata Report is the leading intelligence resource for the document imaging channel in the office technology industry, covering a range of topics, including managed IT solutions, managed print services, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud communications, network security, production printing, services and supplies, vendor finance, mergers and acquisitions, and more. Written specifically for the independent dealer channel, The Cannata Report, founded in 1982, has an audience that includes business leaders in the office technology industry's hardware, software, IT, leasing, and supplies segments. #theCannataReport #officetechnology #businesstechnology