Kodak has revealed its latest technology designed for direct mail and transactional print. The Group has launched a CMYK version of its Prosper print head along with a new addition to its Versamark press family, reports Carlos Martinez from Kodak in Brussels

Against a picturesque Belgian backdrop, Kodak led a group of international journalists through its facility on the outskirts of Brussels. The delegation was one of the first to view firsthand the capabilities of the next generation Versamark system, which aims to address customers’ need for scalability and increased productivity.

The upgraded kit – set to be rolled out in Australia this month – is made up of the monochrome 100N/100W and 150N/150W that represent the entry level, and the 300N/300W and 500N/500W systems, which provide full-colour output.

With these new systems printers have the option of starting with monochrome and moving up to spot and full colour as their production needs change. They also have a shorter web path than previous models, which means fewer web breaks and increased productivity, providing higher throughput in peak production periods, according to Kodak.

The systems feature a single-engine duplex design and the latest drop on demand (DOD) printheads from Kodak. The new Versamarks are targeted at transactional, direct mail and short run newspaper applications, complementing the higher capacities of Kodak’s Prosper platform.

Will Mansfield, director worldwide marketing inkjet printing solutions group at Kodak, says thanks to the single-engine duplex design, the eight new models offer a 40 per cent smaller footprint than competitive systems, and represent opportunities for transactional, newsletter, direct mail and newspaper printers, especially where space is at a premium.

He says, “We feel these machines will be one of the most cost effective for the Australian and Asian markets. It will be a strong product for transactional print, which will provide marketeers with new avenues to make money.”

According to Kodak, the system also helps to reduce costs and turnaround times by streamlining the production process through forms replacement - eliminating the two-step process of printing offset forms or master documents and then imprinting variable data offline. The company adds with the new Versamark systems, users can produce a complete process colour, personalised, two-sided document in one pass.

Also commenting, Isidre Rosello, general manager of digital printing solutions at Kodak, says, “These devices take our proven technology and make it even better with higher image quality, enhanced features, smaller footprint, and a focus on ensuring an easy upgrade path.

“The market called for high-speed colour inkjet that delivers higher performance in less space and we responded with smaller, more productive and reliable systems that fit any business and grow with the customer.”

The systems speeds vary from 246 up to 492 feet per minute at 600 x 600 dpi.

In total, the Versamark line now includes 14 different models to address the individual needs of each customer, according to Kodak.

The family also offers a choice of digital front ends to support the print stream that customers need for their workflow, all while delivering full-page variability. The new models join the Versamark VL-Series Printing Systems as well as a variety of Versamark Imprinting Systems.
According to Kodak, the next generation of printheads improves flat field density and reduces the variation in dot size within one module in the printhead, which reduces banding and results in higher print quality. In the area of jet reliability, technology improvements result in improved roll to roll performance, and improved temperature control results in increased jet reliability and extends printhead life over time.

The advanced controller capabilities of the Kodak 700 Print Manager provide the ability to handle a wide variety of application formats, including native IPDS support, PDF, PostScript and PPML/GA, all on the same digital front end, further extending the application’s reach.

With the Versamark Printing Systems, the security ink feature enables printing of government documents that provide fraud protection with inclusion of high levels of VDP. And the MICR capability can be used for check printing to facilitate automation in check processing while providing a secure feature.

Vince Ferraro, vice president of worldwide marketing digital printing solutions at Kodak says, “Kodak has the largest installed base of colour roll-fed inkjet systems worldwide, and these new models give customers powerful new tools to expand and grow their businesses.

“With more than 40 years of ongoing inkjet innovation, we understand the market and work side-by-side with our customers to ensure they have what they need now, and can capitalise on changes in the market in the future.”

The new Versamark systems accommodate monochrome one-up simplex up to 5/4, and two- up duplex. The systems speeds vary from 246 up to 492 feet per minute at 600 x 600 dpi. In total, the Versamark line now includes 14 different models to address the individual needs of each customer, according to Kodak.

Keeping variable data inline
Kodak also showed delegates in Brussels the capabilities of its new Prosper S20 Imprinting System with CMYK, which the company claims delivers fast, offset-class variable data applications, produced inline with web offset presses and finishing equipment.

The system, which can hit speeds of up to 2,000fpm (610mpm) at 600 x 300 dpi, has application for the publication market applications such as commercial inserts, versioned ads in magazines and newspapers, and commercial direct marketing, according to Kodak.

Printers running the new Prosper series can use the specialty printing capabilities of offset, including metallic inks, heavy colour saturation, scratch-off coatings, and other specialty inks, to create high-value shells that can then be customised with process colour digital printing inline at production speeds.

Kodak also claims that many customers are achieving hybrid printing success with Prosper S-Series Imprinting Systems.

John Hornby, chief executive of UK-based direct marketing provider Lettershop says, “Cost has always been the Achilles heel of high-volume variable data printing. However, our Prosper S10 System with CMYK adds an incremental cost increase of only 10-15 per cent over the cost of offset, and adds 10 per cent variable information.

“The solution is significantly more economical and effective than a full white paper solution. We’ve always had a strong litho operation, and it was natural to mount the Prosper system heads to our finishing line.”

Kodak continues that the Prosper S20 Imprinting System with CMYK has flexible mounting options and can seamlessly integrate with web offset presses and web finishing lines using a variety of third-party printing towers.

This enables the addition of variable data to offset printed materials at a resolution of 600 x 300 dpi. With a print width of 4.16 inches/10.56 cm and pigment-based process colour inks that offer fade, scratch, and water resistance, the system increases throughput and eliminates the need for additional standalone equipment, according to Kodak.

Ferraro says, “The Prosper S10 and S20 Imprinting Systems with CMYK are a tremendous way to increase response rates and ROMI in direct marketing applications while utilising a legacy offset infrastructure. Kodak is the only company currently capable of delivering this high-value inline solution.”

Kodak adds that the hybrid capability of the new Prosper print head gets better when paired with Kodak’s offset solutions of digital plates and output devices.

The company also claims it is currently the only supplier capable of providing and servicing, a fully integrated offset and digital hybrid solution.

Kodak says its technologies provide customers with high fidelity and consistent imaging, cost effective and easy to use operations, and on press robustness and performance that allows customers to enhance the quality of their printed piece while improving productivity, efficiency and ultimately cost.