Over
the past decade, the Kodak Flexcel NX System has revolutionized the flexo
industry, bringing an unprecedented level of quality and performance to flexo
printing for the benefit of everyone involved in the packaging value chain.
Kodak is now announcing another revolutionary innovation – its Kodak Flexcel NX
Ultra Solution. This new solution is the result of Kodak's continued R&D
investment in flexo, which has repeatedly produced progressive advancements in
recent years.
Next
phase in the continuing success story of Flexcel NX
The
Flexcel NX Ultra Solution enables the outstanding and proven print performance
for which Flexcel NX Plates have become well known, with solvent-free,
VOC-free, water-based processing that can deliver a press-ready plate in less
than an hour and sustain clean, consistent plates in a high-volume production
environment.
Enabled
by new, innovative and patent-pending Kodak Ultra Clean technology, the Flexcel
NX Ultra Solution is the first aqueous solution that provides consistent,
high-performing flexo plates in a high volume, low maintenance environment.
“Kodak
has established a track record of technical innovation in the flexo space that
drives growth and business success for our customers. We’re focused on solving
complex technical challenges. Kodak Ultra Clean technology has solved the
fundamental challenge of ‘inconsistency’ traditionally associated with aqueous
processed flexo plates and will enable printers to take advantage of our
industry-leading plate technology without the hassle of solvent processing,”
said Chris Payne, President, Flexographic Packaging Division and Vice President
of Kodak. “The Flexcel NX Ultra 35 Solution is the first product to be
commercialized from the Ultra NX technology demonstration that we previewed at
drupa two years ago and has undergone extensive customer beta trials in
demanding production environments. We’re passionate about bringing robust
technologies to market and extremely encouraged by the positive experiences of
our early adopters.”
Beta
sites have adopted Flexcel NX Ultra Plates into full production
Matt
Gauthier is Prepress and Customer Service Manager for the Label Division of G3
Enterprises, a busy wine label operation in California that produces over 8000
production jobs a year and switched from thermal plates to Kodak Flexcel NX
plates a number of years ago to increase quality. “We can do essentially
anything we want print-wise with the Kodak plates but it’s also important to be
able to quickly produce an individual plate, especially when we have customers
in-house for a press check. It’s been great to have NX Ultra in place,
providing the same quality level but requiring much less time to produce a
plate. We can make changes and quickly send new plates to press, assuring that
customer timelines are satisfied. We have been very happy with results from NX
Ultra.“
“We
have a green initiative in our facility” explains Rob Anderson, Director,
Production and Planning, IGT, a major lottery ticket printer based in Florida.
“So, knowing that NX Ultra was to be a water wash product and we wouldn’t have
to deal with solvent-based processing it was very appealing to us. The
operators of our flexo presses really appreciate the Kodak plates. They see the
difference in the dots and how they print and how vignettes, our fine screens,
how everything looks so much cleaner and essentially it has made their job much
easier. The NX Ultra product itself has been all that has been promised. We can
get plates much faster and we’ve accomplished our green initiative. We truly
look at Kodak as a partner.”
A
complete solution
The
Kodak Flexcel NX Ultra Solution includes the proven Flexcel NX System for
world-class imaging paired with the new Flexel NX Ultra Processing System and
new Flexcel NX Ultra Plate, delivering a complete end-to-end plate making
solution from Kodak. The all-in-one processing system combines exposure,
washout, drying and finishing in an easy-to-use, robust system with automated
cleaning cycles.
Flexcel
NX Ultra Plates utilize the proven Kodak flat top dot structure and are fully
compatible with Kodak’s NX Advantage technology and patented Advanced Edge
Definition for an unprecedented level of ink transfer control during printing
that delivers superb quality and production efficiency benefits. The plates
will be available in thicknesses of 1.14 mm and 1.70 mm and are ideal for
label, paperboard and flexible packaging applications.
The
first product to be made available will be the Kodak Flexcel NX Ultra 35
Solution, which can produce plates up to 35" x 48" (889 x 1219.2 mm)
in size. Product is due to ship in the first quarter of 2019, initially for the
North American market.
