The latest version of Kodak’s Sonora process-free plate extends the range of work that can be done be printed with the plate.
The Sonora UltraXR is resilient enough for print runs of 400,000 on heatset or coldset web presses, 250,000 on standard sheetfed presses and up to 115,000 impressions when running with UV cured inks. The plate also has a stronger image contrast than previously and one which Kodak claims is four times stronger than competitive products.
The plate will be made at the Osterode plant in central Germany which has three plate lines in all.
There will be no price hike with the plate, says Kodak executive chairman and CEO Jim Continenza. “Kodak has invested millions in R&D to foster continuous innovation and provide the highest performing process-free plates available on the market. Sonora UltraXR Plates are the latest product of these efforts, from which sheetfed and web offset printers in the Eamer region can now benefit. And best of all, our print customers receive these further improved plates at no additional cost,” he says.
The new plate will replace the Sonora Xtra2 and Xtra2 for newspapers, which Kodak has been prevented from selling in Germany after losing a patent case against Fujifilm. Production of this version of Sonora will cease in Europe.
Along with the strong image contrast Kodak’s testing and feedback points to high stability on the press and greater tolerance against white light before mounting on press. And should anyone need it the plates will retain their image for up to six weeks when stored in the dark.
The company has more than 6,000 accounts worldwide using versions of the Sonora plate and reported a big boost in US users at the start of the year. The aim is now to convert these existing to the new version as swiftly as possible.
The uptick in Sonora users helped increase sales reported in the company’s Q1 results to $180 million ($165 million) in its print division and to $265 million ($247 million) across the business. However, it has been hit by rising prices for aluminium and silver, forcing the company to dip into its cash balance to the tune of $38 million. Operational Ebitda rose to $15 million ($2 million) as the improvement in the print division swung what was a loss into a $12 million improvement.
