As it continues to reinvent itself, Kodak says it will focus on three commercial digital growth areas: commercial inkjet, packaging and services & solutions. These focus areas will be complemented by Kodak’s continuing presence in the markets for offset plates, CtP, electrophotographic solutions, technical services and unified workflow solutions.
Among its announcements, Kodak has announced the Kodak Prosper 6000XL inkjet press, expanding applications in commercial print and publishing markets. The 6000XL offers faster turnaround (300mpm), at a lower cost with ink savings and higher uptime. An inline paper treatment module brings substrate flexibility and cost savings, enabling the use of regular coated, uncoated and glossy stocks. Kodak claims savings of between 10 and 60 per cent on paper cost.
Also in the Prosper family, Kodak has announced what it claims is the world’s fastest imprinting system, the Prosper S30. The S30 brings high-quality personalisation to offset print jobs (including newspapers) at a higher speed of 912mpm at 600x200dpi, expanding applications into new markets.
Kodak also says it will demonstrate a CMYK version of the Prosper S20 at drupa.
Meanwhile, Kodak will launch a fifth imaging unit for the Nexpress line, delivering high impact communications by adding eye-catching colours and effects such as gold, pearlescent and neon pink to expand the existing range. An inline UV coating option makes print stand out whilst a long-sheet high capacity delivery tray increases productivity.
In prepress, Kodak has announced Sonora XP plates which it claims are truly process free and are ‘great for the environment, but even better for the bottom line’. Says Kodak, the Sonora XP range brings mainstream quality and productivity whilst streamlining and simplifying prepress, reducing operational costs and labour and improving pressroom performance.
Prinergy Workflow 6, claims Kodak, is a best-in-class consolidated workflow solution, taking costs out of the manufacturing process, integrating and optimising production planning, improving efficiency with customer-defined product and processing intent. Prinergy Workflow 6 will enable better management of all resources, equipment and materials, automate job and imposition creation with RBA and monitor status and communication across multiple devices, it says.
Kodak Intelligent Prepress Manager 2.0 enables managers to gain critical insight to their prepress operations with intelligent monitoring and reporting, smart alerts, business continuity and mobile connectivity, bringing ‘anytime, anywhere control’ of prepress operations.
Among partnerships to be demonstrated at drupa, Kodak has partnered with UK book press manufacturer, Timsons, under its Inkjet Technology Partnerships Program. Leveraging Kodak’s Stream inkjet technology the Timson’s T-Press is designed for wide web book printing. The T-Press debuted at major UK book printer, Clays, this month and will be running live at drupa.
In prepress, the Kodak Flexcel NX System has new capabilities to bring dramatic improvements in cost and flexibility through spot colour reduction. Kodak’s new Spotless Flexographic Solution leverages the power to print with fewer spot colours, fewer plates, fewer changeovers, faster makereadies and, it claims, outstanding print quality.
Also for the packaging prepress market, Kodak is launching the Flexcel Direct System for ITR (in-the-round) sleeves. It claims it’s innovative direct laser engraving system makes the production of high quality ITR flexo sleeves more affordable. Other benefits in prepress include faster, process free throughput and lower total cost of ownership. Benefits on press include excellent print quality, faster set-up times and greater consistency.
Geographically, Kodak will increase its emphasis on emerging markets, the BRIC countries, Asia and so on. One product targeted at such markets is Achieve, an entry-level system for affordable conversion to thermal CtP. The Achieve All-In-One CTP System includes platesetter, plates, workflow, processing, chemistry, and service at a lower total cost of ownership whilst, claims Kodak, maintaining a strong sustainability position.
Summary of Kodak solutions featured at drupa
- Kodak NexPress SX digital production colour press
- Kodak Prosper XL press with Image Optimizer Station
- Kodak Prosper S20 imprinting system with CMYK
- Kodak Versamark 500W printing system
- Kodak Intelligent Prepress Manager 2.0
- Kodak Magnus 800 platesetter
- Kodak Achieve all-in-one CtP System (for emerging markets)
- Kodak Flexcel NX Mid System
- Kodak Flexcel Direct System
- Kodak Sonora XP process free plates
- Kodak Trillian SP Plates
- Kodak Flexcel NX Plates
- Kodak Flexcel Direct Plates
- Kodak Prinergy Workflow System
- Kodak InSite Prepress Portal
- Kodak Design2Launch Brand Manager
- Kodak Security Solutions
- Kodak Service & Support
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