KBA-MetalPrint and KBA-Digital & Web present their jointly developed new printing system CS MetalCan at METPACK
The know-how which has been accumulated over many years of practical implementation is in future to benefit also the metal packaging branch. At the METPACK 2017 trade show in Essen (Hall 3, Stand B 39), Stuttgart-based KBA-MetalPrint GmbH is presenting the CS MetalCan, a new printing system specifically for mass beverage can production, which was engineered together with fellow subsidiary KBA-Digital & Web Solutions in Würzburg and is now to be marketed under the new label CanSolutions. With its 10 keyless inking units for an indirect letterset process, automatic plate and blanket changers and many further innovations, the CS MetalCan is set to redefine the standards in beverage can decorating.
New field of application in high-speed production
The CS MetalCan further expands the portfolio of printing solutions offered to the metal decorating branch by KBA-MetalPrint. In combination with the drying systems CS PinOven and CS BeltOven, KBA-MetalPrint now offers complete printing solutions for the 2-piece market segment, complementing its already strong standing in the production of 3-piece cans.
The keyless inking units of the CS MetalCan have been specially adapted to the demands and production conditions of beverage can decorating. High-performance motors are the basis for a maximum rated speed of 2,500 cpm.
New standards for makeready processes
Analyses of beverage can production have identified the decorating process as the bottleneck in integrated line production. Long job changeover times constantly result in interruptions for the entire line. Through the automation of plate and blanket changing, job changeovers are faster than ever before, and line stoppages can be avoided. Each printing unit is provided with its own automatic plate changer, enabling plates to be changed parallel to each other in less than one minute. Furthermore, the 12 blankets on the central blanket wheel can also be changed simultaneously. This enables the operator to concentrate on the essential quality-related aspects of the makeready process.
Benefits for users and brand owners
In addition to faster job changes, the increased level of automation of the CS MetalCan translates into significantly improved safety for the operator. Where manual tasks used to be necessary inside the machine, the operator can now simply select intuitive commands via the 24-inch touchscreen display.
The unique number of 10 inking units opens up a whole new spectrum of options for brand owners, answering the modern trend towards increasingly colourful and more complex can designs.
Robust growth of the beverage can market
The volume of the beverage can market is estimated to be around 320 billion units per year (2015), with a healthy CAGR of approx. 3%. In mature markets like the USA, per capita consumption lies between 300 and 350 cans per year. Germany is a very small market due to the deposit legislation which applies to beverage cans, but is nevertheless displaying significant growth in the meantime.
With the new CS MetalCan, KBA-MetalPrint offers an outstanding solution for the highly demanding process of beverage can decorating. With this new development, the KBA Group is continuing its successful strategy of portfolio expansion to serve the growing packaging market.
Benefits of the CS MetalCan at a glance:
- Significantly faster makeready processes
- Improved safety for the operator
- Higher line output
- Enhanced image quality and more colours in a single machine
- Significantly higher ink transfer stability over the production run
- Reduced spoilage during job changes and in case of line stoppages.
“The future of print lies in quality and service”
The four-colour Rapida 75 PRO with inline coater went into operation in Grevenbroich at the beginning of 2017. Managing director Marc Abels had spent most of the previous year pondering over an investment in a new press in B2 format. Quotations were requested, tests were conducted, and in the end the decision came down in favour of KBA.
“The decision was clinched not least by the very professional impression made by Steuber and KBA over the whole consultation phase,” says 34‑year‑old Marc Abels, who runs the company together with his sister Christina Müller-Abels. The initial contact to Mönchengladbach system house Steuber was the outcome of an “irresistible” offer made to the Abels at last year’s drupa: The Hansa team was not only able to inspect the Rapida 75 PRO at close quarters on the KBA stand, but also invited to come back to test the press for themselves once the exhibition closed its doors. The printers gladly travelled over from nearby Grevenbroich – with demands and expectations which Marc Abels himself admits were “almost immorally high”. The half-format press nevertheless countered flawlessly. Abels: “The presentation, the demonstration and also the print testing functioned better than in our wildest dreams.” That is some compliment, as the Hansa director is not one to accept even the slightest compromise when it comes to quality.
Workflow to round off the package
In addition to the new press, Hansa also needed replacement for its workflow – not least due to the lack of CIP 3 connectivity. As Steuber is furthermore an Agfa service partner, however, an Apogee workflow could be set up on site for test purposes just two days after the drupa print tests. The deal was done. “With that kind of response in the middle of drupa – at that moment, at the latest, I knew that the partnership would function really well,” says Marc Abels. The workflow was installed in Grevenbroich in the summer, followed by the Rapida press in December 2016. After detailed instruction from both KBA and Steuber, there are now up to three printers working on the press. The first summary after three months: “The great advantage compared to our previous press is the double-size impression cylinders. We can print heavier sheets, and they also run more smoothly. Operation with TouchTronic is simple, and the quality is high.” Numerous inline finishing solutions, cutting-edge dryer systems and the compact footprint are further significant plus points.
To 100 per cent with the Rapida 75 PRO
One thing which has especially convinced the experienced Hansa printers is the high quality: “With the Rapida, you can achieve a 100 per cent result,” says Marc Abels. “The familiarisation period is perhaps a little longer, but we are now achieving the last five per cent which used to be beyond our reach.” With the new KBA and with further offset and digital presses, the company sees itself ideally equipped to handle a broad spectrum of jobs. According to Marc Abels, the offset and digital processes complement each well, allowing adaptation to the budget and requirements of a given project. Either way, he has no doubts about the future of print. More and more customers attach importance to “tangible” high-class products. There is a clear trend back to individual service and quality. And those are both guiding principles for the company, which prints a wide range of products from stationery via brochures to mailings for customers all over the country.
Steuber as the hub
Short distances, customer proximity and flexibility – that has been the philosophy ever since grandfather Jakob Abels founded Hansa in 1955. The company has operated from its premises on Grabenstrasse since 1962. Marc Abels and his sister took over the reins as the third generation in 2014. In the same way that they are themselves available for their customers at any time, they appreciate the personal commitment and professionalism of their business partners: “Steuber is the hub for various pre-press, print and finishing systems. If I need to call, I am not connected to a hotline in some other country, but instead speak to someone local who knows exactly what I am talking about. And I can be sure to receive a fast and uncomplicated solution.”
New KBA Webshop in the Anniversary Year
Thanks to its easy-to-understand and user-friendly navigation, it is easier for customers to find their way around in the KBA WEBSHOP and to use all of the relevant content intuitively. The new KBA WEBSHOP is going online in time for the company’s 200th anniversary.
Group-wide introduction planned
The WEBSHOP will first be offered to customers of KBA-Digital & Web Solutions, and then step by step it will be launched worldwide. In further steps, KBA-Sheetfed Solutions, the Swiss KBA-NotaSys SA, KBA-MetalPrint GmbH, KBA-Metronic GmbH and KBA-Flexotecnica S.p.A. will install the new WEBSHOP this year. The updated Webshop is one of many initiatives within the framework of a group-wide service project, with the aim of further increasing customer satisfaction.
Many features in the new KBA WEBSHOP
The shop can be used on PCs as well as on all common mobile devices, and with the update it now has numerous new features and search options. A shopping cart function, for example, offers the option of integrating consumable materials and parts subject to wear and tear in a cyclical ordering mode. An availability indicator is another very useful feature for customers to optimise their purchasing planning and warehouse management.
“Our WEBSHOP is of course an ongoing process. We will always offer new features and continuously develop our shop further – for example “flowless coupling”, so that orders can be triggered using customer-specific ordering systems,” says Thomas Potzkai. In addition to the broad product range, services can also be requested using the new KBA WEBSHOP, for example a thermography audit or a machine network test.
Flexo, Inkjet, Offset, Workflow – Kodak brings it all to China Print 2017
Beijing, CHINA, Monday, May 08, 2017 —
At China Print 2017, Kodak will showcase a robust lineup of print technologies to customers, vendors and industry leaders. The Kodak “Print. For Good.” theme will colorfully present how the company’s offerings can be good for industry growth, good for printers – and good for the planet.
At booth 121, Hall E2, Kodak will feature:
- The KODAK FLEXCEL NX System, which delivers high performing digital flexo plates for the widest variety of package printing applications and enables printers to drive towards their environmental sustainability goals with a cost effective flexo print process that delivers quality levels that rival offset and gravure printing
- Stream Inkjet Solutions from Kodak and OEM partners including KODAK PROSPER S-Series Imprinting Systems, KODAK 6000C Presses and demonstrations of BoostJET, distributed by Boostech, as well as high speed inline printing solution using KODAK S-10 Imprinting Systems at Shanghai Dragon’s booth to highlight capabilities for Publishing, Packaging and Commercial Markets
- KODAK SONORA UV Process Free Plates and how they deliver longer run lengths for UV applications than any other process free plate
- KODAK SWORD MAX Thermal Plates, targeted for availability in Q4 2017, which use patented Advanced Resin Technology (ART) to deliver high-performance features, such as exceptionally strong solvent resistance and scratch resistance, improved handling, fast imaging and processing, high resolution, and support for reprinting without baking
- The KODAK TRENDSETTER Q800 Plate setter with Single-Cassette Unit, which will be imaging SONORA Plates live on the stand, showing the unparalleled imaging stability and accuracy available through KODAK SQUARESPOT Imaging Technology and power savings of up to 90% over competitive CTP devices
- The KODAK PRINERGY On-Premise Platform that delivers end-to-end automation and keeps costs, quality, and business risk in control
- The recently launched PRINERGY Cloud Platform – delivering new, industry-first solutions that augment and expand the current PRINERGY On-Premise Platform increasing your ability to profit from market opportunities
QUOTES
“We are excited about our expanded portfolio that will improve printers’ profitability and sustainability,” said Brad Kruchten, President, Print Systems Division, Kodak. “We are also looking forward to discussing opportunities for growth with new Kodak solutions.”
“Customers drive our business, and at China Print I’m excited to meet with packaging prepress providers and printers, big and small, to show them how Kodak can help them use advanced flexography to surpass the expectations of their brand clients while meeting the need to drive environmentally responsible manufacturing operations.“ said Chris Payne, President, Flexographic Packaging Division, Kodak.
“This is an opportunity for us to showcase our industry expertise and insights on a big stage,” said Randy Vandagriff, President, Enterprise Inkjet Division, Kodak. “I expect the Kodak booth to be a lively hive of activity with interest in learning more about our unique continuous inkjet technology.”
“We are excited to show the China Print attendees how our software solutions can help them grow their business,” said Allan Brown, Vice President and General Manager, Unified Workflow Solutions, Kodak. “We want to make the most of our time with you in Beijing, as we continue to grow – globally.”
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.
KODAK, FLEXCEL, PROSPER, SONORA, SWORD MAX, TRENDSETTER, SQUARESPOT and PRINERGY are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.
2017
- Published in All News, KODAK News
Print in all its facets to mark the company’s 200th anniversary
The 50th issue of KBA Report, the customer magazine of press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA), is now out – just a few months before the company celebrates the 200th anniversary of its founding on 9th August 2017. The 52-page magazine is packed with articles covering the most varied market segments and business philosophies of print companies around the world. The topics range from the increasingly popular LED‑UV technology, via double coating and inline foil application for the finishing of high-quality packaging in sheetfed offset, through to new investments in digital and newspaper printing. Current developments and new business ideas are also presented, for example an award-winning smartphone app which provides a mobile Rapida press console, and a webshop for individually designed bottles and glasses produced on a K1 digital printing machine from KBA-Kammann.
In his editorial, KBA president Claus Bolza-Schünemann looks back over the successful business year 2016, which produced the highest group profit in the almost 200-year history of the company. Important milestones from the long history of the world’s oldest printing press manufacturer are recalled in a commemorative supplement enclosed in the customer magazine. Bolza-Schünemann: “We will be celebrating our proud company anniversary in fitting manner in September. Our founders taught us to be ready to venture new paths of technical innovation, and to be guided by the needs and wishes of our customers. We see it as our obligation to uphold their legacy.”
KBA Report is available in German, English, French, Spanish and Italian. Copies can be requested from the KBA regional offices or from the central marketing department of Koenig & Bauer AG
Tel.: +49 (0)931 909-4567
Fax: +49 (0)931 909-6015
E-mail: marketing@kba.com
A PDF version of the magazine is also available for download.
Four years of experience printing with the KBA Rapida 76
Late one Friday afternoon, the printer at the press is casting a very concentrated and critical eye over the sheets on the desk. But this is not a customer job. Instead, he is testing how to maximise colour intensity when using fluorescent inks on the Rapida 76. That is typical for robstolk, where great importance is attached to exploring process and technology limits.
“No road is too long for us when we are experimenting with the technical possibilities,” says Van As. To ensure absolutely full control over the print process, the company’s own pre-press specialist is also part of the team. He knows the press as well as the printers do, and spends a great deal of his time creating optimised profiles – often for uncoated papers.Janssen: “Every customer, every job and every print run is handled with the same attention to detail. Throughout the process, we are continually fine-tuning the print result, to enable us to draw the highest possible performance from our press in every respect, whether technology, image quality or paper. We are also happy to try a different kind of paper if the original choice fails to deliver the desired result.”
Black is black
The fact that robstolk is not interested in short-cuts is also illustrated by the cooperation with its ink supplier: Highly pigmented inks were developed specifically for the Rapida 76 with its HR-UV drying. Van As: “We have a lot of customers for whom quality is more important than quantity. The price goes hand in hand with this approach. We have specialised above all on uncoated paper grades. Here, too, black must really be black, and the colours must shine on the paper. We have customers with a limited budget, who we try to help with creative solutions, as well as customers from the premium segment.”
Spectacular examples are placed on the table: Books and brochures in the most varied forms. Even a set of colour references for the ink manufacturer, with a work of art on one side and a matching colour sample on the reverse. robstolk uses not only CMYK inks, but also numerous PMS colours. The use of extended base colours and additional solids serves to preserve details with strong contrast. The resulting print products are lively and colourful – not least on uncoated papers.
Print is already dry when it leaves the press
Van As: “In spring 2013, we commissioned the first Rapida 76 in the world. The underlying principle appealed to us from the start: Printing with highly reactive inks and HR-UV drying at every unit, which means that the sheets are already dry when they leave the press. Furthermore, there is plenty of scope for experimentation to achieve special effects by printing wet-on-dry. The results are pin-sharp, without even a hint of spreading. The ink stays on the surface of the paper rather than penetrating deep into its fibres. In short: The print is really impressive.”The Rapida 76 prints in B2 format 530 x 750 mm, and robstolk chose a five-colour version with additional coater. Important features alongside fully automatic plate changing are the inline colour measuring system QualiTronic ColorControl and the HR-UV dryers. With this drying technology, energy consumption is reduced considerably compared to a conventional UV press. Two highlights which are unique in the B2 format class are the DriveTronic feeder and the sidelay-free infeed DriveTronic SIS, which have been inherited from the larger Rapida 106. The press stands out with extremely fast makeready and its suitability to print a broad spectrum of substrates.
Absolutely satisfied
Janssen: “When you are the first company to work with a new press, you know in advance that the learning curve for your staff, as well as for KBA and Wifac, is unlikely to point steeply upwards the whole time. It is bound to look like a roller coaster at times, and this expectation turned out to be true.”
Van As and Janssen are thus all the more appreciative of the support provided by Wifac over the course of this adventure: “The technical assistance from the KBA engineers in Radebeul is equally outstanding. They can log in to the press from their own offices to perform remote diagnoses. It is also a great advantage that, if a technician from Wifac needs to call after all, he then already brings the right spare parts.”
Technicians will shortly be updating the control software of the Rapida 76 with appropriate patches. “We are absolutely satisfied with the press. Faced with the same decision again, we would definitely still chose the Rapida 76. With the kind of products we print, this press is perfect for the job. And especially because we are not afraid of change, we also look for unconventional solutions if the standard approach fails to succeed. That is also interesting for KBA. Only recently, engineers from Radebeul visited us. They wanted to see at first hand what these quirky printers from Amsterdam were doing. That was quite an experience. But even more important is that we are able to constantly surprise our customers with new ideas. With this press, we really can stand out above the market standard.”The company robstolk will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding this year. Tanneke Janssen and Jacqueline van As took the business over from the founding family of Rob Stolk in 2003.
Kodak announces strategic decision to retain PROSPER inkjet business
ROCHESTER, NY, Friday, April 07, 2017 —
Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: KODK) today announced it will retain its PROSPER inkjet business. The decision was made following in-depth management review of business operations and multiple discussions with prospective buyers.
“This is a pragmatic decision given the improvements in the business and the offers received,” said Jeff Clarke, Kodak Chief Executive Officer. “PROSPER performed well in 2016 with a 40 percent increase in annuity sales for the full year. We expect our Enterprise Inkjet Systems Division (EISD) to be profitable this year, including our next-generation ULTRASTREAM investment.”
Kodak will continue to invest in its ULTRASTREAM program and has entered into letters of intent with partners which will create new applications that drive market demand for the technology. Kodak will begin delivering ULTRASTREAM evaluation kits to 17 companies, including Fuji Kikai, GOSS China, Matti, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery (MHI-PPM) and Uteco, to explore the integration of ULTRASTREAM into their future printing solutions. Kodak expects products built on ULTRASTREAM technology to go to market in 2019.
“Kodak will continue to evaluate and act on opportunities to improve shareholder value through acquisitions, partnerships, and sales of businesses within its portfolio,” said Clarke.
”The sale process for PROSPER which we conducted over the past year was robust,” said David Bullwinkle, Kodak Chief Financial Officer. “We hired Sagent Advisors, which solicited interest from global organizations. Strong interest in the business and technology existed throughout the process. While we had multiple offers, the range of consideration did not reflect the value of the business today.”
Kodak will recast financial results to reclassify PROSPER into continuing operations of the company within the Enterprise Inkjet Systems Division. Kodak has been accounting for PROSPER in discontinued operations as an asset available for sale and will provide an update of this reclassification on its next quarterly earnings call.
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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.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning Kodak’s plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenue or performance, capital expenditures, liquidity, investments, financing needs and business trends and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “predicts,” “forecasts,” “strategy,” “continues,” “goals,” “targets” or future or conditional verbs, such as “will,” “should,” “could,” or “may,” and similar expressions, as well as statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, including management’s examination of historical operating trends and data, are based upon Kodak’s expectations and various assumptions. Future events or results may differ from those anticipated or expressed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks and uncertainties described in more detail in Kodak’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, under the headings “Business,” “Risk Factors,” “Legal Proceedings” and/or “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources,” and in other filings Kodak makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, as well as the following: Kodak’s ability to improve and sustain its operating structure, cash flow, profitability and other financial results; the ability of Kodak to achieve cash forecasts, financial projections, and projected growth; Kodak’s ability to achieve the financial and operational results contained in its business plans; Kodak’s ability to fund continued investments, capital needs and restructuring payments and service its debt and Series A Preferred Stock; Kodak’s ability to discontinue, sell or spin-off certain businesses or operations, including the PROSPER business, or otherwise monetize assets; changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates; Kodak’s ability to effectively anticipate technology trends and develop and market new products, solutions and technologies; Kodak’s ability to effectively compete with large, well-financed industry participants; Kodak’s ability to comply with the covenants in its various credit facilities; continued sufficient availability of borrowings and letters of credit under Kodak’s revolving credit facility, Kodak’s ability to obtain additional financing if and as needed and Kodak’s ability to provide or facilitate financing for its customers; the performance by third parties of their obligations to supply products, components or services to Kodak; and the impact of the global economic environment on Kodak. There may be other factors that may cause Kodak’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to Kodak or persons acting on its behalf apply only as of the date of this press release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included or referenced in this press release. Kodak undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Kodak, PROSPER and ULTRASTREAM are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.
2017
- Published in All News, KODAK News
Kodak Breaks New Ground for Flexo Growth in Weatherford, Oklahoma
$15 million capital investment marks significant milestone in adoption of KODAK FLEXCEL NX Plates
Weatherford, OK, Thursday, April 20, 2017 —
Kodak, one of the world’s leaders in commercial print solutions, hosted customers and community leaders at an April 20th groundbreaking ceremony in Weatherford, Oklahoma to celebrate the expansion of its manufacturing facility in the region to accommodate a new flexo plate line for the production of KODAK FLEXCEL NX Plates. The ceremony and associated celebrations featured a ribbon cutting by Kodak CEO Jeff Clarke and Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, and remarks by Flexographic Packaging Division President Chris Payne and Kodak customers.
The theme of the event centered on regeneration and the revitalization and investment of the Weatherford plant in its 50th anniversary year, which was chosen for its strong technical capabilities and existing skilled tenured workforce. The new flexo plate manufacturing line, a sister operation to Kodak’s existing plate manufacturing facility in Yamanashi, Japan, is designed to meet increasing industry demand for higher quality flexographic printed packaging with more cost effective and efficient production processes. The $15 million investment represents one of the company’s largest capital investments since 2000 and underscores the ongoing growth and adoption of KODAK FLEXCEL NX Plates that grew 16 percent in 2016 compared to the prior year, a rate four times the projected growth rate of the flexible packaging market itself, according to Smithers Pira.
“Today’s celebration brings a focus on the ‘new face of flexo,’” said Jeff Clarke, CEO. “Kodak’s differentiated flexo technology is helping our customers to drive growth, break new ground and transform flexographic printing and the packaging industry as a whole. The growth of KODAK FLEXCEL NX speaks to the strength and opportunity of the flexographic packaging market, and we’re looking forward to using the expanding facility here in Weatherford to continue helping our customers realize the benefits of Kodak’s flexo technology and what its unique capabilities can do for their business.”
On the previous day, the print and packaging media, along with key FLEXCEL NX Plate customers, heard Kodak’s Flexographic Packaging Division President Chris Payne speak about Kodak’s role in driving growth and transformation of flexo. Additionally, two VIP customers spoke about growth and impact on their businesses.
“The last two days have been a fantastic opportunity to share our vision for flexo, our story of growth and the unique Kodak technology that enables it,” said Chris Payne. “It was a privilege to host elected officials, customers and the media to mark this occasion.”
The new flexo plate line is expected to be in full production by early 2019 and will initially focus on supply of FLEXCEL NX Plates to customers in the Unites States, Canada and Latin America. The news represents yet another milestone in the company’s ongoing investment in flexographic printing technology worldwide, which includes the recent opening of Kodak’s Flexo Packaging Technology Center in Shanghai in March 2017.
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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.
Kodak and Flexcel are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.
2017
- Published in All News, KODAK News
Kodak Opens New Flexo Packaging Technology Center in Shanghai
Investment signals growing adoption of flexographic technology for package printing in China and Asia Pacific
SHANGHAI, China, Wednesday, April 05, 2017 —
Kodak, one of the world’s leaders in commercial print solutions, hosted customers and other guests at the March 29th, opening of its new Flexo Packaging Technology Center in Shanghai, China. More than 50 assembled customers, industry media and partners attended to see product demonstrations at the new location.
The new technology center is designed to provide customers and others from the print industry with opportunities to see and discuss demonstrations of the KODAK FLEXCEL NX System or to have plates made for printing trials. It is also as a space where Kodak’s vision for flexographic printing in packaging can be shared with trade shops, printers, brand owners and industry partners across the Asia-Pacific region. The center is complete with real-life examples of packaging projects in which Kodak technology is making a difference every day, and with tools that provide inspiration to the Kodak team and prospective visitors.
This investment by Kodak demonstrates the company’s commitment to flexographic print technology for packaging in China and throughout the Asia Pacific Region.
“The quality, efficiency and environmental benefits of the latest flexo printing capabilities are driving more printers to transition from traditional gravure and offset solutions here in China and the Asia Pacific Region,” said Chris Payne, General Manager and Vice President, Flexographic Packaging Division, Kodak. “Our world-class technology and packaging solutions are now on display and accessible in this incredibly important part of the world where we see great opportunities as printers adopt flexo technology to meet their customers’ needs.
Chris Payne and Yong He, Kodak Greater China Cluster Business Director, were joined at the opening of the tech center by honored guests Ms. Fang Qian, Vice Division Chief, Press and Publication Administration and Jianbao Zhou Director of The Flexographic Printing Branch of China Print Technology Association to formally open the center for business. In accordance with local custom, they were joined by Boon Tien Pang, Global Operations Director, Flexographic Packaging Division, to draw the eyes on the lions, boldly decked out in Kodak corporate yellow and red colors, to bring good luck to the facility.
Kodak customers in attendance expressed excitement and confidence in Kodak’s latest effort.
“Kodak technology is delivering solutions to the complete value chain,” Graeme Kirk, Chairman, the Kirk Group. “We have practical every-day experience of using the FLEXCEL NX System to convert gravure designs to flexo, bringing flexibility and faster turnaround times to packaging production without compromising quality and opening all-important doors for print standardization.”
“Kodak is developing true partnerships and reaching upstream to the brand owner to help them take advantage of new technology with confidence for product ranges within their portfolio,” said Jason Goode, Packaging and Process Development Manager, Simplot.
Printers with an interest in flexo printing solutions for packaging are eagerly invited to visit the new Shanghai Flexo Technology Center to experience, first hand, the technical and cost advantages of this Kodak technology.
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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.
Kodak and Flexcel are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.
2017
- Published in All News, KODAK News