PRP announces award of KODAK NEXPRESS print head manufacturing contract
Swindon (UK), Tuesday, October 11, 2016 —
PRP is delighted to announce the award of a significant manufacturing contract from the Eastman Kodak Company. The contract to manufacture 1200dpi LED print heads is the culmination of a successful joint development program between the companies over the past three years. The robust new print heads, developed for Kodak’s market-leading NEXPRESS Platform, incorporate PRP’s leading edge monolithic micro-LED technology and enable higher speed, higher resolution printing.
Kevin Peart, Managing Director of PRP, said, “I am delighted that PRP has formed this successful partnership with Eastman Kodak and the announcement of this contract is a testament to PRP’s micro-LED technology and manufacturing capabilities. The innovation and development of this new print head have culminated from the shared creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of both companies.”
At drupa 2016, Kodak previewed the “Max Platform”, the next-generation NEXPRESS Color Platform built with KODAK NEXPRESS Dynamic Imaging Technology. This platform, featuring a new multi-bit LED writing system produces the widest range of applications, including transactional, direct mail, packaging, commercial print and photobooks. The writing system, computed at twelve bits and delivering eight bits of data to each of the imaging cylinders, provides excellent, consistent quality by utilizing closed loop process controls that maximize uptime and lowers running costs. This new writing system delivers nearly 300 million pieces of image information per square centimetre using a data rate similar to watching 3700 HD movies simultaneously.
“Kodak’s “Max Platform” is set to be the most versatile digital press platform on the market”, said Robert S. Taylor, General Manager, Electrophotographic Printing Solutions, Vice President, Print Systems Division, Eastman Kodak Company. “Partnering with PRP to develop this technology is a testament to Kodak’s commitment to investing in digital print technologies while offering unique application opportunities and flexibility that supports the diverse nature of today’s printing businesses.”
#
About PRP Optoelectronics LTD
PRP is a recognized leader in the design, development, and manufacture of customised LED solutions. Over the past 27 years, it has established its reputation as a provider of high-quality products; PRP continues to strengthen this reputation through a commitment to quality and market driven R&D activities. From early stage design and development through to system integration PRP delivers a complete end-to-end service. Expanding on its heritage in the avionics industry, PRP now produces LED solutions for a wide range of applications including printing, UV curing and image projection. For additional information on PRP, visit us at prpopto.com, follow us on Twitter @PRP_Opto, or view PRP Optoelectronics on LinkedIn.
About Kodak
Kodak is a technology company focused on imaging. We provide – directly and through partnerships with other innovative companies – hardware, software, consumables and services to customers in graphic arts, commercial print, publishing, packaging, electronic displays, entertainment and commercial films, and consumer products markets. With our world-class R&D capabilities, innovative solutions portfolio and highly trusted brand, Kodak is helping customers around the globe to sustainably grow their own businesses and enjoy their lives. For additional information on Kodak, visit us at kodak.com, follow us on Twitter @Kodak, or like us on Facebook at Kodak.
2016
- Published in All News, KODAK News
Kodak announces new CTP options offering newspaper printers more productivity, efficiency and sustainability
VIENNA, AUSTRIA, Monday, October 10, 2016 —
Kodak is taking advantage of WAN-IFRA World Publishing Expo (October 10, to 12, 2016, Vienna Exhibition Center) to announce enhancements to its highly automated thermal CTP portfolio for newspaper. Since Kodak’s invention of thermal plate imaging technology 21 years ago, the company has shipped over 21,000 CTP units worldwide, of which over 2,500 are newspaper CTP’s. These new options will give newspaper printers more speed, efficiency and control in the platemaking process.
Higher speed imaging provides increased throughput and efficiency
Kodak has successfully introduced a 16% laser power improvement for both the KODAK GENERATION NEWS and the KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetters, meaning newspaper printers can image more plates in a shorter time. Thanks to the additional laser power, the throughput of the GENERATION NEWS Platesetter Z-speed version has increased from 258 to 277 KODAK SONORA NEWS Process Free Plates per hour while that of the TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter V-speed version is up from 116 to 129 plates. Kodak intends to make this enhancement commercially available as a standard feature in the first quarter of 2017.
The new, ultra-high speed imaging technology christened “W speed” is another optional addition to the KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter, leading to huge productivity leaps. When used together with the SONORA NEWS Process Free Plate and the Autoloader option, it boosts the throughput of the TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter from 150 to 240 plates per hour, or in the configuration with the Single-Cassette Unit (SCU) from 116 to 150 plates. Kodak also enables easy integration into existing plate lines with optional single or dual plate rotation. The new W-speed option will be released in Q2 2017.
Full control over platemaking – anytime, anywhere
Kodak has also announced recently the new, Mobile CTP Control app specifically designed for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. This app lets Kodak customers monitor multiple CTP systems conveniently and efficiently. Users can get immediate feedback on their platemaking process via the Internet anywhere in the world. Against the background of today’s ever changing business demands, this app allows them to operate proactively and be more flexible. The new Kodak Mobile CTP Control app will be commercially available early 2017.
Enhancements for more sustainability and greater resource conservation
Measures to improve sustainability and resource conservation are critical to Kodak and its customers. To meet this need, the KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter features a new cooling system that improves power savings by an additional 30% compared to the initial design, namely down to as low as 770 watts while imaging. The TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter also comes with a new, shorter unload table which reduces the footprint of the CTP configuration and enables more efficient use of valuable floor space.
Newspaper printers can make a significant contribution to resource conservation by opting for the KODAK SONORA NEWS Process Free Plate. This newspaper printing plate does away altogether with the traditional processor – and with it the consumption of water, power, and chemicals – speeding up and generally streamlining the platemaking process accordingly.
“These newest enhancements to our CTP solutions are further evidence of Kodak’s faith in the future of newspaper and coldset web offset printing,” said Brad Kruchten, President of Kodak’s Print Systems Division. “They enable our customers in the newspaper industry to adapt the productivity, efficiency, and sustainability of their platemaking process to the demands of today’s markets.”
About Kodak
Kodak is a technology company focused on imaging. We provide – directly and through partnerships with other innovative companies – hardware, software, consumables and services to customers in graphic arts, commercial print, publishing, packaging, electronic displays, entertainment and commercial films, and consumer products markets. With our world-class R&D capabilities, innovative solutions portfolio and highly trusted brand, Kodak is helping customers around the globe to sustainably grow their own businesses and enjoy their lives. For additional information on Kodak, visit us at kodak.com, follow us on Twitter @Kodak, or like us on Facebook at Kodak.
2016
- Published in All News, KODAK News