Eric Owen, vice-president of worldwide customer development in digital printing solutions, told ProPrint that several Australian printers are in negotiations to invest in the inkjet equipment.

He added that Australia can expect “notable and significant” installations of its high-volume inkjet Prosper press within coming months.

Owen (pictured) was out in Australia last week to meet with prospective buyers of both the colour Prosper 5000XL and B&W 1000 models.

He could not reveal whether the first Prosper in Australia would be the colour or B&W model. “The interest for both is relatively equal.”

Kodak has announced two beta sites of Prosper presses around the world: a 1000 model at US book printer Offset Paperback Manufacturers and a 5000XL at Italian firm Rotomail, which took the machine that was on show at Ipex. A 1000 model is expected to be installed at US-based book printer King Printing this month before upgrading it to a Prosper 5000XL in early 2011.

In a recent ProPrint online poll, 44% of respondents said they thought there was a big market for high-volume inkjet in Australia, with a further 33% saying there was a small market. Only 22% thought there was no market in Australia.

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