Kodak took to the recent PacPrint tradeshow in Melbourne to showcase its portfolio of digital, offset, and software solutions. It also presented its innovative pre-press and digital print solutions which aim to enable printers to thrive in a changing market environment.
Kodak A/NZ sales director Rob Mollee put the spotlight on the Kodak PRINERGY Workflow Software, a pre-press automation software which enables printers to increase productivity, cut turnaround times and reduce costs.
Mollee said with powerful automation, support for offset, flexo, digital and gravure production, compatibility with virtually all third-party software and equipment, and connectivity with the broadest range of digital presses, PRINERGY Workflow is a perfect solution for printing companies of any size.
“PRINERGY is the glue that holds everything together within a print business. I refer to it these days as the central nervous system because realistically, once the workflow stops, everything stops virtually,” he said.
“With PRINERGY, we tie in Microsoft so that we can provide a complete solution – including back-office MIS integration and multiple outputs. We have full PRINERGY workflow suites, so our customers can have a chat to us about the best option for them.”
Mollee also spoke about the Kodak SONORA Xtra, which is Kodak’s next-generation process free offset plate that delivers a stronger image contrast, faster CTP imaging speeds and improved handling robustness, plus sustainability and waste savings in prepress and on press.
SONORA Xtra Plates meet the needs of most printers currently using unbaked processed plates. Users can achieve run lengths of up to 400,000 impressions on web presses, 250,000 impressions on sheetfed presses, and 100,000 impressions for UV-ink applications.
“What we’ve done in the marketplace is pushed the process free evangelism because we do have the dominant share of process free plates in the market. And as our customers in A/NZ transition their businesses, my plan for this region is to have all our plates that go to market 100 per cent SONORA by the end of 2023,” Mollee said.
In the cut-sheet space, Kodak offers the NEXFINITY, with Mollee describing it as an “extremely reliable workhorse”.
“The NEXFINITY digital press is the latest iteration of our very successful NEXPRESS. NEXFINITY takes it to the next level of quality, productivity and versatility,” he said.
Mollee was also excited to talk about the company’s recently launched the Kodak ASCEND Digital Press, which is the first electrophotographic press designed to print on heavier substrates – up to 762 microns – and at lengths up to 122 centimetres with eye-catching, high-margin CMYK and flat foil embellishments in one pass.
“It’s targeted for specialised packaging, short-run packaging, signage, shop displays, etc. So really for that packaging and display market,” he said.
The Kodak Inkjet Series was also a focal point at PacPrint, including the Kodak PROSPER 6000 press platform, which provides dependable high print quality and productivity of up to 4,364 A4 pages per minute.
“The PROSPER heads give us the flexibility to do anything from an imprinting system that can convert a standard press into a digital press,” Mollee said.
“The Kodak PROSPER presses give users confidence to proactively respond to the challenges of today’s market and seize new opportunities. Kodak’s proprietary Stream Inkjet Technology blends the productivity of offset with the versatility of digital.”
Three PROSPER 6000 press models – the 6000C, 6000P and 6000S – feature an array of intelligent built-in components that optimise output quality while they print, setting new industry standards for quality and productivity across a range of applications.
Furthermore, Kodak has also recently unveiled its PROSPER 7000 Turbo Press, a new inkjet web press that uses Kodak Stream Inkjet Technology, offering printing speeds of up to 410 metres per minute or up to 5,523 A4 pages per minute.
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