Kodak signs agreement at IPEX with six UK distributors

At this year’s IPEX exhibition, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group (CGC) signed an agreement with six of its existing distributors to sell its new complete CTP and workflow package, which is ideally suited to B2 commercial printers. 

The companies that were chosen are now distributing this package across the UK and include Service Offset Supplies Loughton, Service Offset Supplies Bolton, Mayday Graphic Products, Visual Graphics Supplies, Avon Graphics and Film Techniques.

Kodak UK sales director Neil Yeomans commented: ‘Each of these distributors has a proven track record with Kodak for successfully selling our diverse range of products in the UK. We are extremely pleased to be working with such a professional combined sales force and believe this will be a significant venture for us, as it will present our B2 package to a wider audience through each of their extensive sales networks.’ 

The company said in a statement: 'The package on offer includes Kodak’s Prinergy Evo Workflow system, the Kodak Magnus 400 platesetter and Kodak Thermal Direct Non Process Printing Plates. The Prinergy Evo Workflow System has been specifically designed to fulfil the needs of the smaller printer and introduces unique advances in automation, flexible integration and process control, allowing operators to link process and control steps together to define a workflow. The Magnus 400 platesetter images a wide range of plate sizes at exceptional image speeds, while maintaining a very small footprint. It is also ideal for the small commercial printer who needs automation. The device provides top quality imaging of up to 250lpi and supports Staccato 25 micron screening technology for superior imaging. It also supports conventional thermal plates as well as chemistry-free and non process plates, therefore, Kodak Thermal Direct Non Process Printing Plates have been added into the equation in this package to complement the Magnus 400 platesetter. These plates eliminate the installation, management and maintenance of the traditional wet-chemical plate processing system. By removing the processing step, Themal Direct plates shorten the platemaking cycle, and deliver more jobs on press per shift.'

Mr Yeomans continued: ‘Today’s smaller printers are constantly faced with challenges of tighter deadlines, decreasing prices, shorter print runs and competition for customers.  Therefore, there is a huge demand in this particular market for affordable, reliable prepress solutions that will increase automation, reduce manual errors and provide consistency, speed and quality of output. This B2 package does just this and being an upgradeable solution, it will grow with the company, making it an excellent long term investment.’ 

The Prinergy Evo Workflow System provides the smaller printer with optimized PDF processing and JDF-based integration with other systems and makes prepress simple and cheap to operate.  Being scaleable, modular and open, customers can buy what they need today and invest in further options later as the business grows.  The Magnus 400 platesetter is easy to use and provides top quality imaging and high productivity in a 4-page CTP device. For printers with limited space for processing and chemistry the Kodak Thermal Direct plates eliminate the steps between CTP and the press. They provide significant time and money saving and eliminate capital and maintenance costs whilst also being environmentally responsible.

‘By offering all these elements as an entire package for printers, we hope to provide the smaller printer with a complete solution that will ultimately deliver the productivity and quality needed in an ever-competitive market,’ concluded Mr Yeomans.