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Kodak Launches New Inkjet Press, New Technologies, in Big Product Launch

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KODAK PROSPER ULTRA 520 Press

On June 15th, Eastman Kodak announced what it’s calling a revolutionary new inkjet press, as well as an enhanced portfolio of offset and digital printing solutions. The company says its game-changing technology allows commercial printers to increase profitability by making their traditional workflows more efficient while creating opportunities for growth.

Jim Continenza, who took over as Kodak’s CEO in February 2019, explained that the new introductions reflect Kodak’s continuing investments in R&D, noting  that: “Kodak is investing approximately $25 million a year in advancing print technology, doubling down on digital print and delivering the products our customers need to drive productivity and growth as the industry evolves.”

New KODAK PROSPER ULTRA 520 Press

According to Kodak, the KODAK PROSPER 6000 Press transformed the way printers use digital technology in commercial print applications. The new KODAK PROSPER ULTRA 520 Press builds on that heritage and takes inkjet to the next level, delivering offset-like quality at a consistent production speed of 150 mpm/500 FPM on glossy papers with high ink coverage and variable print,  all at the industry’s lowest cost of operation.”

The new press is the first Kodak-manufactured press using Kodak’s revolutionary ULTRASTREAM writing system, which employs high-precision placement of smaller, perfectly round, satellite-free drops to produce “the highest inkjet image quality available in the marketplace today.” Kodak says the PROSPER ULTRA 520 is engineered to maximize productivity by printing across a broad range of substrates using the industry’s most versatile, highest quality and cost-effective water-based inks. As a complete system, the PROSPER ULTRA 520 is suitable fore applications that include direct mail, marketing collateral, catalogs, books and more. It will be available at the end of 2020.

Digital Flexible Film Press – The UTECO Sapphire EVO W Press

Kodak says its Sapphire EVO W is the first digital packaging press to match the productivity of flexo and the quality of gravure. It uses Kodak’s high-resolution ULTRASTREAM Inkjet Technology and QD Packaging Inks to bring digital-printing opportunities into mainstream production of flexible packaging.

With run lengths of up to 20,000 m2, or more with variable content, Kodak says the Sapphire EVO W is a disruptive solution that allows brands to adopt innovative packaging that leverages the advantages of digital printing. The Sapphire EVO W Press is available today worldwide.

Introducing the KODAK SONORA XTRA Process Free Plates

Kodak says it continues to lead the market with innovations in process-free plate technology with the industry’s next-generation plate, which delivers stronger image contrast, improved handling robustness, and faster imaging speeds. It says the SONORA Plate technology is the world’s most widely used and trusted process free plate technology, embraced by over 4,000 printers of all sizes around the world. The SONORA XTRA Process Free Plate is scheduled to be available at the end of 2020.

Next Evolution of KODAK PRINERGY Workflow with the KODAK PRINERGY On Demand Workflow Platform

PRINERGY On Demand is a new global platform that hosts a suite of offerings that are said to modernize and maximize a customer’s PRINERGY Workflow investment. Kodak says select customers are already experiencing the increased security, reliability, efficiency, and remote work flexibility of PRINERGY On Demand hosted and managed by Kodak in the cloud under a cost-effective monthly subscription.

PRINERGY On Demand is backed by the secure network infrastructure of Microsoft Azure. It’s available now, with new options planned to be rolled out at the end of 2020.

World’s Fastest 8-Page Platesetter

Kodak also introduced what it calls the world’s fastest 8-Page CTP for process-free plates with the new KODAK MAGNUS Q800 Platesetter with T-Speed. The MAGNUS Q800 Platesetter will now be able to image up to 80 plates per hour to help maximize the productivity of offset workflows.

Faster imaging speeds need automation that can keep up, so Kodak is also introducing an updated Multi-Pallet Loader that matches the 80 pph speed and with a capacity of up to 3,200 plates. The T-Speed MAGNUS Q800 Platesetter will be available for beta testing this month and will be in production in September 2020. 1,500 plates per pallet capacity for Single Pallet Loader/Multi Pallet Loader will start shipping in June 2020.

KODAK MAGNUS Q4800 Platesetter

Available in 2021, Kodak says its new MAGNUS Q4800 Platesetter will deliver industry-leading speed and productivity for extra-large format (XLF) plate making. It says it will deliver the fastest throughput for XLF size plates for 96-page presses and provides market-leading throughput for 1,650 mm size plates, with dual plate loading. It will also have the most flexible pallet automation available with up to 8 plate sizes online and up to 4,800 plates online.

For more information on these new products, visit Kodak here.

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