Shakeups in the World of Color Measurement
📦 Datacolor’s Twin Acquisitions of Techkon
1. Acquisition of Techkon GmbH (January 30, 2025)
In late January 2025, Datacolor—a global leader in color management—acquired Techkon GmbH, a specialized German firm with over 40 years in color measurement, notably within printing and packaging techkonusa.com+9wideformatonline.com+9Datacolor+9. Datacolor emphasized that the move “marks an important next step… expanding our market presence and product portfolio in the ink, printing, and packaging industry” wideformatonline.com+2Datacolor+2Schalast Law | Tax+2.
2. Acquisition of Techkon USA (July 8, 2025)
Following up, on July 8, Datacolor acquired Techkon USA, based in Danvers, Massachusetts, integrating its ChromaQA software and award‑winning inline spectrometers Datacolor. The deal brings Techkon USA’s 17‑year track record and American customer base under Datacolor’s global umbrella.
❌ Konica Minolta Ends MYIRO Line (June–July 2025)
On July 1, 2025, Konica Minolta announced that by December 31, 2025, it will discontinue its graphic‑arts instruments—specifically the FD series and MYIRO handheld/auto‑scan spectrophotometers—and will cease sales and production techkon.com+8Datacolor+8LinkedIn+8labelsandlabeling.com+2sensing.konicaminolta.eu+2techkonusa.com+2. Support and accessories are scheduled to continue through March 2031.
Why These Moves Happened
🧭 Datacolor’s Strategy
- Market specialization: Techkon adds decades‑deep expertise in color measurement instruments, while Techkon USA brings software (ChromaQA) and inline solutions honed over nearly two decades in the Americas—broadening Datacolor’s footprint in print & packaging.
- Synergy across verticals: Datacolor already serves textiles, plastics, and coatings; the Techkon acquisitions integrate high‑precision printing tools and analytics into that blend.
- Global scale: Unified operations—Germany, US, global—the combined entities offer seamless sales, support, and innovation sensing.konicaminolta.euDatacolor.
🔄 Konica Minolta’s Portfolio Realignment
- Strategic refocus: The company is pulling out of the graphic‑arts niche to streamline product lines toward core strengths like industrial color and light measurement.
- Lifecycle considerations: With new flagship spectrophotometers (e.g. CM‑3700A Plus), the MYIRO line is considered mature or diminishing in relevance.
Impact on Printing & Packaging Industry
✅ Consolidation of Expertise
Datacolor now combines:
- Techkon’s precise spectro-densitometers and software,
- Techkon USA’s inline systems and ChromaQA analytics,
- Its own broad capabilities across multiple industries.
This translates into unified, end‑to‑end color workflows—from press checks to inline quality control—under one trusted vendor.
🎯 Greater Efficiency & Accuracy
Printers and packaging firms gain:
- Streamlined support and compatibility of devices/software,
- Improved traceability and control across production steps,
- Reduced downtime from multiple vendors.
Fewer integrations mean smoother operations and consistent color accuracy.
🤝 Competitive Shift
- From Konica Minolta to Datacolor: As Konica Minolta phases out MYIRO, many MYIRO users will likely migrate to Datacolor‑Techkon systems for long‑term support, now with a stronger global reach.
- Accelerated innovation: Datacolor’s existing R&D resources can now enhance Techkon’s legacy, accelerating developments in portable and inline color measurement.
🚧 Short‑Term Challenges
- Transition concerns: MYIRO users need clarity on migration paths and calibration alternatives.
- Integration tasks: Datacolor must harmonize product lines (hardware, software, services) smoothly; any misstep could disrupt customer satisfaction.
Looking Ahead
- Early 2026: Konica Minolta stops MYIRO operations; users begin shifting.
- Mid‑to‑late 2026: Datacolor integrates Techkon’s systems into its flagship platform—offering unified spectrophotometers, inline control, ChromaQA analytics.
- Long-term: Expect continuous color measurement innovation—AI‑enabled inline adjustments, cloud‑connected quality tracking, and color intelligence spanning packaging to digital media.
🔍 Summary Table
| Event | Date | Strategic Rationale | Industry Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Datacolor acquires Techkon GmbH | Jan 30, 2025 | Expand color control tools & markets | Enhanced global color expertise |
| Datacolor acquires Techkon USA | July 8, 2025 | Incorporate US-developed software/tools | Unified hardware/software color platform |
| Konica Minolta ends MYIRO line | July 1, 2025 | Portfolio streamlining | Migration toward Datacolor ecosystems |
Bottom-line
Datacolor’s aggressive acquisitions solidify its position as the go-to provider of color measurement in printing and packaging—from offline spectrophotometers to real‑time inline analytics. Konica Minolta’s exit from the MYIRO line signals that a shift is underway—centralizing color‑quality control under specialized, globally integrated players. For printers and packagers, this offers improved workflow consistency and future‑ready innovation paths, but also requires active transition management to leverage the full benefits of this consolidation.