With two major shows coming up in 2008, FESPA and Drupa, Kodak has not made any announcements about further product development for the traditional wide format sector as yet, but in a preview to the enormous Drupa show in May it intends to demonstrate it's Stream Inkjet Technology, when it unveils the Kodak Stream Concept Press which will target the commercial print sector.
The full colour, high speed Stream Concept Press will demonstrate how continuous inkjet technology will reach offset class in terms of quality, productivity and cost in commercial applications. The Stream Concept Press features resolution that exceeds 600 dpi, small ink droplet size, high accuracy of drop placement, and fast production speeds that exceed 500 fpm.
Continuous inkjet technology is moving into new markets, focusing on commercial printers that require very high volume capabilities. Stream Technology will serve as an entrée into continuous inkjet printing for commercial printers that produce monthly page volumes of 10 million or more and want to bring the benefits of digital print—such as variable data, short run, personalization or versioning—to jobs traditionally produced using offset presses.
“Stream Technology and a combination of Kodak’s expertise in colour management, workflow, inks and substrates will combine to bring unparalleled digital printing solutions to commercial offset printers,” said Isidre Rosello, General Manager, Inkjet Printing Solutions, Kodak. “With the benefits of offset class quality, reliability, throughput, and cost of operation, Stream Technology will be the platform to enable more printers to take full advantage of digital growth opportunities using inkjet.”
In addition to the Stream Inkjet Writing System, the Stream Concept Press will leverage Kodak’s developments in ink and media offering commercial printers pigment based inks that provide outstanding colour saturation and permanence. Printers using full colour continuous inkjet technology have in the past been limited to printing on uncoated paper stock with dye water based inks or higher cost inkjet coated substrates. Stream Technology will enable a greater breadth of products to be produced with a greater offering of substrates, both coated and uncoated.
The Stream Concept Press has been demonstrated to limited audiences at Kodak’s facility in Dayton, Ohio.
“Stream Technology will bring some exciting changes to the industry and this technology demonstration will be an impressive display of its offset class capabilities,” said Ronen Cohen, Vice President of Marketing, KODAK Inkjet Printing Solutions. “Stream Technology provides a number of flexible features to meet the needs of commercial printers for applications like direct mail, catalogs, and free standing inserts. Stream Technology is one of the foundations that will solidify Kodak’s leadership in inkjet innovations. The feedback from the demonstrations in Dayton has been fantastic.”
The Stream Concept Press technology demonstration and other Kodak Inkjet Products will be in Kodak’s stand, D01, in Hall 5 at drupa 2008.
Kodak Australia
www.kodak.com.au
