Kodak Announces Multiple Innovations From Software to Digital Press
In a press conference with printing industry and analysts on October 6, 2021, Kodak announced its new ASCEND Digital Press, electrophotographic (EP) press designed to print heavy weight substrates at long lengths with eye-catching, high-margin CMYK and flat foil embellishments in one pass. The new press will be available Q2 2022 in North America and Europe. Pre-orders are being taken now.
Credit: Kodak
Designed to more flexible than traditional presses and more productive than flatbed inkjet systems, the KODAK ASCEND Digital Press delivers production speeds up to 572 sqm/hour (5280 sqft/hour). Jeff Perkins, vice president of sales digital and ink jet products, U.S. and Canada, at Kodak, noted that the ASCEND’s large sheet length of up to 48”x14”, which is 23% more print area than a B2 sheet, makes the press a good fit for retail and point-of-purchase printing applications.
Diego Diaz of Kodak’s digital printing division, noted that the ASCEND is a duplex press that is capable of manual duplex even with heavier boards and larger sheet sizes.
In response to print service providers’ and brands’ demand for eco-efficient printing, the new press uses KODACHROME Dry Inks, which the company says are environmentally friendly. Perkins also noted that KODACHROME Dry Inks are indirect food contact rated. Diaz said one of the strongest points of the press is the de-inkability. Perkins added that specific Pantone colors can be made for customer use.
Finally, Diaz emphasized the importance of the press being able to both print and finish in one pass. He noted that the ASCEND printing and finishing process delivers better registration than multi-pass process because there’s less sheet shrinkage.
Other announcements include the debut of KODAK PRINERGY On Demand Access, which Kodak noted makes the company's software more affordable for small- to mid-size printers.
The new SaaS solution, available in Qa 2022, is expected to provide full connectivity to digital presses, Microsoft Azure-backed security and the scalability the PRINERGY On Demand Platform is known for. PRINERGY On Demand Access includes preflight, color management, file management, backup, and routing as well as built-in KODAK INSITE Prepress Portal functionality for file submission, remote customer collaboration and online approvals.
The new SaaS solution can be used as a secure and high performing software platform for printers of virtually any size, but the company took pains to note that the platform can also be used for printing operations with or without digital presses.
Jim Tomblinson, vice president of operations at Modern Litho, Jefferson City, Missouri, spoke at the press conference and analyst event about the industry need for more modern MIS technology. That's why Modern Litho reached out to Kodak about a better solution, even if it was on the bleeding edge or leading edge.
Praising KODAK PRINERGY On Demand Access, Tomblinson says, "We have one point of contact for our entire business solution." He also appreciated the “depth of security with Microsoft,” the more reliable uptime because “the hub-and-spoke [software server] model was removed,” and the efficiency of “job share at a click of the button."
Giving his overall assessment of testing KODAK PRINERGY On Demand Access in a production environment, Tomblinson says, "As an old prepress guy, this gives me goosebumps frankly."
Further announcements include a new water-based varnish that can be jetted as an area or spot coat to printed packages using KODAK PROSPER S-Series or KODAK PROSPER Plus Imprinting Systems. The eco-friendly PROSPER Digital Varnish can be applied in register with design elements and creates a matte protective layer providing rub and water resistance to paper-based packaging applications. In a written statement that accompanied the conference, Kodak noted that its PROSPER Digital Varnish helps printers eliminate the costs, effort, waste and environmental impact associated with traditional post-coating methods because it is applied only where needed and doesn’t require plate making for spot coating. The KODAK PROSPER Digital Varnish will be available worldwide by the end of 2021.
An enhanced KODAK Mobile CTP Control App offering more management and reporting capabilities was also announced. The KODAK Mobile CTP Control App is an app that allows remote control and monitoring of up to 10 KODAK CTP Platesetters. In the accompanying written statement, Kodak noted that the KODAK Mobile CTP Control App aims to reduce a dependency on onsite labor for managing jobs in queue, status updates, and more. The enhanced version provides access to real-time and historical data with customizable reporting to save time on data analysis, help prioritize actions, and improve plate-making efficiency. The new version of KODAK Mobile CTP Control App is available worldwide now to download for Android and iOS mobile operating system.
As editor-in-chief of Packaging Impressions — the leading publication and online content provider for the printed packaging markets — Linda Casey leverages her experience in the packaging, branding, marketing, and printing industries to deliver content that label and package printers can use to improve their businesses and operations.
Prior to her role at Packaging Impressions, Casey was editor-in-chief of BXP: Brand Experience magazine, which celebrated brand design as a strategic business competence. Her body of work includes deep explorations into a range of branding, business, packaging, and printing topics.
Casey’s other passion, communications, has landed her on the staffs of a multitude of print publications, including Package Design, Converting, Packaging Digest, Instant & Small Commercial Printer, High Volume Printing, BXP: Brand Experience magazine, and more. Casey started her career more than three decades ago as news director for WJAM, a youth-oriented music-and-news counterpart to WGCI and part of the Chicago-based station’s AM band presence.
