Kodak Preparing Non Process Plate Technology for Newspapers

Kodak is currently running tests at several locations in the United States and Canada of non process plate technology for newspapers that will shorten the prepress time required for newspapers and reduce costs. The company made the announcement during NEXPO 2007 in Orlando, Fla., the largest North American gathering of newspaper technology and operations professionals.

“Kodak’s non process thermal plates remove steps from the platemaking cycle, save floor space and money required for plate processors, and eliminate the need to buy, store, handle and dispose of chemistry,” said Jack Knadjian, Vice President Market Segment, Publishing, Kodak. “Kodak is driving innovation to help newspaper printers increase productivity and reduce costs. We adapted the already successful KODAK THERMAL DIRECT Non Process Plate technology used in the commercial printing segment and are testing it with several newspaper printers in North America.”

Kodak’s non process plates for newspapers provide high quality, consistent imaging performance and easy handling. The plates develop on press, shortening the platemaking cycle and getting jobs to press more quickly. The technology eliminates purchase and maintenance costs associated with plate processors and developer chemistry, while also reducing water usage.

“Kodak’s non process plate definitely saves us time and money. We put the plates directly on the press after they come off the KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter and away we go,” said Curt Garrison, Press Room Manager for the Dover Post in Dover, Del. “I’ve observed no differences in the quality between our standard thermal digital plates and the KODAK non process plates. We’ve done blind tests with our publishers and quality control people, and they have not detected any differences.”

The press room at the Dover Post operates three shifts a day, five days a week, turning out the 30,000 circulation weekly, as well as other publications and commercial jobs. Garrison says the KODAK non process plate technology has eliminated down time and costs associated with having to change developer chemistry and clean the processor unit, which they had to do every 3,000 conventional plates produced.

“The non process plates cleaned up and developed really well on the press. We print with KODAK STACCATO Screening and the non process plates did a beautiful job,” said Tim Kirschner, Prepress Manager at The St. Joseph News-Press in St. Joseph, Mo. “They last really well on press. A 75,000 copy job was no problem.”

Kodak’s non process plates are compatible with all popular thermal CTP devices without any modification of the equipment. In testing, the Non Process Plates are providing run lengths of 100,000 impressions in newspaper litho printing applications and 50,000 impressions in newspaper direct litho printing.

“Our press uses S-wraps, or direct to plate printing, which is hard on plates. Before we went CTP, the plates would have to be replaced midway through the run, from the wear of paper directly on the plates. But with Kodak’s non process plates, we ran 30,000 copies and there was no sign of wear at all,” said Robin Lashway, Imaging Department Manager at the Galveston County Daily News in Texas. “When we saw the process, it was amazing to us. The fountain solution is just water, and it softens up the coating that’s on the plate, and the paper actually takes the coating away. There’s no contamination to the fountain solution. I thought it was incredible the way it goes from a light sensitive plate to a normal offset plate.”

“Kodak’s non process plates offer newspapers an environmentally friendly alternative that also reduces costs and puts time back into the editorial window,” said Knadjian. “The plate has a familiar look and feel on press. It is a presensitized aluminum offset plate with a durable, ultra thin imaging layer that has proven itself in commercial applications, which will make the transition to the new plate technology seamless for most newspaper printers.”

KODAK products are backed by KODAK Service and Support. Named Best Support Organization at the 2006 International Business Awards, KODAK Service and Support includes more than 3,000 professionals in 120 countries. These professionals are fully qualified to help customers control costs, maximize productivity, and minimize business risk.

About Eastman Kodak Company
Kodak is the world’s foremost imaging innovator. With sales of $13.3 billion in 2006, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on helping people better use meaningful images and information in their life and work. Consumers use Kodak’s system of digital and traditional products and services to take, print and share their pictures anytime, anywhere; Businesses effectively communicate with customers worldwide using KODAK solutions for prepress, conventional and digital printing and document imaging; Creative Professionals rely on KODAK technology to uniquely tell their story through moving or still images; and leading Healthcare organizations rely on Kodak’s innovative products, services and customized workflow solutions to help improve patient care and maximize efficiency and information sharing within and across their enterprise. More information about Kodak (NYSE: EK) is available at http://www.kodak.com.

For more information about Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, visit http://www.graphics.kodak.com. For downloading photos from Kodak’s image library, visit: http://www.kodak.com/go/gcg_image.