Kodak adds Prosper Plus technology

This includes four new imprinting components as well as food-safe packaging inks and pre-coatings for folding cartons, food wraps, paper cups and plates, and ream wraps. 

The four hardware products will include two narrow formats and two wider format models, which will either print at speeds up to 260m/min (850ft/min) or 600m/min (2000ft/min) maximum. The narrow format design is a 105mm (4.13in) single jetting module, perfect for imprinting barcodes, QR codes, promotional contest information or small format designs in either monochrome or 4-color output. The wider format design is 210mm (8.26in) dual stitched products, claimed as ideal for corrugated, folding carton and label packaging applications that require full page printing or dynamic layouts. 

These components are capable of being mounted in-line with offset, flexo, or gravure presses, from Uteco or other equipment providers, or could be implemented in finishing lines such as folding/gluing systems. This provides the flexibility for digital to be incorporated throughout various existing printing operations, said Kodak. Prosper Plus models also feature new print modes with smaller drop size and higher resolution for faster drying and better quality.

The new Prosper Plus models will expand the capabilities for printers to leverage continuous inkjet as a complimentary capability to the Kodak Prosper 6000S simplex press and the Uteco Sapphire Evo web-fed press.

Prosper Plus is the newest Kodak Stream inkjet technology component product line, developed based on Kodak Prosper S imprinting systems. These are designed for packaging and product decoration applications. Kodak’s water-based inks have passed US and European certifications for food safety, direct skin contact and food service products. First demonstrated at drupa 2016 alongside its expanded gamut ink set, Kodak’s digital varnish for packaging applications offers a unique combination of gloss and durability enhancement on folding cartons and related applications.  This odorless, water-based digital varnish is formulated for indirect food contact compliance and is free of VOCs, mineral oils, and any unreacted UV-curable components. 

Kodak has also been working in close collaboration the likes of Michelman to test compatibility of Kodak’s inks and technologies with various substrates such as PET, nylon and polypropylene. The company has worked to pre-qualify existing flexible packaging options from key suppliers to assure the compatibility with commercially available adhesives, substrates, primer, Kodak’s inkjet inks, and flexo overvarnish and overprint. The combination of all these technologies are delivered by the Uteco Sapphire Evo press using Kodak Stream inkjet technology. Uteco has expanded its work with Kodak to use its Ultrastream technology.

Further, Kodak has developed the ‘Creative Freedom’ campaign to educate and promote the use of digital printing in packaging applications.