Kodak continues to turn its focus towards packaging with the latest version of Prinergy and to continue the drive towards packaging, has announced that its Prosper 6000 inkjet press is suitable for some packaging applications.
Prinergy 8.0 includes integration with digital presses from Komori, Konica Minolta, Ricoh and Landa to increase the level of automation and control from a centralised workflow. A new Digital Job Ticket Editor, which connects the workflow to these machines, is described as the “first workflow that enables production decisions based on real time press information”.
Packaging specific features include support for third party screening to import settings automatically into Prinergy 8.0 as well as its own Maxtone SX four-colour screening designed optimised for packaging. It includes full support for Ghent PDF Workgroup standards developed to provide brand consistency across distributed production sites.
The Pandora step and repeat software is enhanced through Smart layout technology to slash layout creation times to minutes and to optimise material use on web presses through a split colour bar which can be positioned according to need.
Additional features for InSite Portal include a shift from Flash to HTML5, enabling users of tablet devices to interact with Insite and inclusion of Preflight+ to identify errors at the point of job submission. The Preps imposition software has also been upgraded to increase the level of automation possible.
Packaging has been identified as a key driver of growth for Kodak, particularly around its Flexcel NX flexo plate. The Nexpress is capable of printing lightweight cartonboard. For a short while at least, this is being joined by the Prosper inkjet press. A new version, the Prosper 6000S has been put through its paces printing on 270gsm lightweight cartonboard.
The Prosper 6000S is configured as a single engine machine able to run at 300m/minute on 620mm wide reels. The demonstration machine runs reel to reel.
Kodak has also sold Prosper heads to Bobst for inclusion in its digital corrugated press while the Swiss manufacturer has also declared it has a webfed carton press under development. Flexible packaging manufacturer Uteco is also using the Kodak inkjet head in a press printing direct to films.
The suitability of Prosper for packaging applications will depend on acceptance of the water based ink and on consistency of output. This was endorsed by the Printing Industries of America which judged the Prosper 6000C running at 200m/min to be the most consistent in a blind judging of nine inkjet presses.
Kodak’s workflow has now been made available for packaging purposes, strengthening its portfolio for what is going to be a key driver of growth for the business. Its Prosper 6000S is a version of the inkjet press optimised for printing on cartonboard.
