PRINT 09: Kodak To Launch Four Digital Presses
Wilen Direct first with Prosper S10 using Stream inkjet web technology; three new NexPress SE sheetfed printers
By Graphic Arts Online Staff -- Graphic Arts Online, June 16, 2009
Kodak announced four new digital press model series, and reported on the progress of the second beta user of its long awaited Stream inkjet web printing technology. Stream will be incorporated in a color and monochrome inkjet web press line, to be called Prosper, which will be presented at PRINT 09, then formally be commercially launched at IPEX in 2010.
Wilen Direct, a Deerfield Beach, FL direct marketing and mailing printing firm, says it has been operating the
Kodak Prosper S10 inkjet web imprinting system as a beta user for 60 days
. Wilen Direct began using a Prosper S10, incorporating four monochrome printheads to personalize offset preprinted web rolls in April. The company's Kevin Wilen, Exec VP, says the system has produced up to 1.6 million impressions per month at 600-dpi resolution.
Wilen Direct and affiliated companies produce variable data printing for Time Warner, Charter Communications, Comcast, the New York Islanders, Tribune, ESPN, HBO, Sony, and Papa John’s.
"It’s essential to provide a mix of personalized print and online solutions," says Wilen.
"An interesting thing that came of this beta is that fact that in some cases, they were able to eliminate the black plate," says Kevin Joyce, Kodak's Worldwide VP, Sales and Marketing, Digital Printing Solutions.
Joyce also said another Prosper S10 will be installed in Hong Kong, producing taxi receipts which in that market double as lottery tickets with variable data printing.
Kodak, previewing new technology offerings for PRINT 09, also announced a new NexPress SE model series. NexPress, originally developed in patnership with Heidelberg and first introduced 10 years, will see three new models at PRINT 09: the SE 2500 (83 ppm), SE3000 (100 ppm) and SE3600 (120 ppm) digital color production presses. The SE models use improved dry inks and integrated intelligent calibration systems. Kodak's Joyce says he sees "tipping points" arriving for application of Prosper inkjet web presses in several markets, including book printing. "The tipping point for books is 50-7,000 units,” Joyce says.
