KODAK HONORED WITH TWO PRESTIGIOUS INTERTECH TECHNOLOGY AWARDS

Printing Industries of America awarded Kodak two 2010 InterTech™ Technology Awards, the highest honor for innovation in the graphic communications industry. Kodak was the only multiple winner, earning two of the six prizes awarded. Over the years, Kodak has received a total of 26 InterTech Technology Awards for innovative solutions for commercial, data, publishing and packaging printers.

Receiving the 2010 InterTech Technology Awards are the KODAK PROSPER S10 Imprinting System and KODAK DIGICAP NX Screening. The PROSPER S10 Imprinting System is a monochrome continuous inkjet solution offering an unprecedented combination of image quality and high productivity with consistent reliability and low total cost of operation, enabling the creation of more effective, personalized communications materials.

DIGICAP NX Screening significantly improves ink transfer efficiency during flexographic printing, especially when printing on films. It allows flexographic printing to truly compete on a quality level with gravure printing for flexible packaging, producing higher print densities, smoother solid area ink coverage and expanded color gamut with process printing.

“KODAK Solutions such as the PROSPER S10 System and DIGICAP NX Screening help customers differentiate their businesses in the marketplace, increase production efficiencies, and improve return on marketing investment for their clients,” said Chris Payne, Director and Vice President, Business to Business Marketing, Kodak. “These awards are testament to Kodak’s ongoing commitment to deliver innovative solutions that help our customers grow their businesses.”

The KODAK PROSPER S10 Imprinting System integrates easily with a variety of web offset presses and web finishing equipment, allowing commercial printers to leverage their existing assets, capture new business opportunities and add value to direct marketing jobs. The PROSPER S10 Imprinting System features offset class quality of 600 x 600 dpi resolution and operates at speeds of up to 1,000 fpm (305 mpm), saving time and money over a traditional, two-step variable data process that combines offset pre-printed forms and offline laser imprinting.

In his support of the nomination of the PROSPER S10 Imprinting System, Darrin Wilen, President, Wilen Direct, discussed the solution’s flexibility and the advantages when using variable data or versioning on printed pieces.

“The S10 has delivered the speed and quality we demand, keeping up easily with our existing offset presses. We really liked the flexibility to move the S10 from press to press,” said Wilen. “Without a doubt, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in effectiveness of print through the S10’s personalization capability. We are producing direct mail up to 40 percent faster and at a quarter of the price than our other digital print solutions.”

KODAK DIGICAP NX Screening is used with the KODAK FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic System, a previous InterTech Technology Award winner. DIGICAP NX Screening creates a micro surface texturization pattern on all image areas of the KODAK FLEXCEL NX Plate, an enhancement that significantly improves ink transfer efficiency. Suitable for a wide range of applications, irrespective of line screen or design content, DIGICAP NX Screening delivers high densities for greater visual impact and a wider process color gamut that enables the use of fewer spot colors. Faithful reproduction of the fine surface pattern created by DIGICAP NX Screening is made possible by the unique capability of the FLEXCEL NX System to image consistent and repeatable plate elements at high resolution.

John Fisher, Production Director of leading UK flexible packaging printer, Ultimate Packaging said, “This is probably the biggest technology advancement I have seen in the market in the last 10 years. Our customers are telling us how much more vibrant and clean their jobs look, and the efficiency gained from improved color reproduction is making our facility much more productive.”

An independent panel of judges deliberated over technology nominations ranging from software solutions to press consumables and printing systems, and identified those proven as truly innovative and expected to have a major impact on the graphic communications industry. The InterTech Stars, recognized as a symbol of technological innovation and excellence, will be presented before an audience of industry leaders during the 2010 Printing Industries of America Premier Print Awards and InterTech Technology Awards Gala, October 3 in Chicago.