Product category:
Printing Pre-Press Systems and Materials (Repro, Platemakers, CTP, Workflow, Document Management, Design Software, etc.)
News Release from: Kodak Graphic Communications Group | Subject: Nexpress 2100, 2500, Nexglosser
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 June 2006
Digital Presses Boost Photo Printing's
Fast Growth
The nexus taking place between high quality digital printing technology and consumer demand for personalised photo gift items is creating a burgeoning market for graphic communications providers.
The nexus taking place between high quality digital printing technology and consumer demand for personalised photo gift items is creating a burgeoning market for graphic communications providers That is according to Kodak's Graphic Communications Group (GCG)
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 1 Aug 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Adopt far reaching marketing to redefine printing
Kevin Joyce, who has been appointed as chief marketing officer at Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, believes that the printing industry needs to take a fresh look at how it markets itself.
Kodak's flexo printing system's technology award
Kodak's Flexcel NX digital flexographic system is one of 10 products to win a PIA/GATF Intertech Technology Award.
The company added that its Nexpress digital colour presses, colour science and workflow software, combined with new marketing, sales and product development support, open possibilities for offering a range of profitable products.
Photo books to capture family milestones, greeting cards with personal photographs and personalised calendars and planners are a few of the popular items that can be produced quickly and cost efficiently with Kodak's Nexpress presses, it is claimed.
Will Mansfield, marketing director for digital printing solutions with Kodak GCG's EAMER, said: "We are seeing dramatic growth for many of our customers because of the potential for photo-rich imaging applications made possible by digital printing.
Further reading
Platesetter, Workflow Lead To Better Productivity
UK commercial printer, Printhaus, ordered a new Kodak Magnus 800 Quantum platesetter at Drupa 2008, together with a Kodak Prinergy workflow system, version 4.0.
University's Digital Print Strengthens Mailings
The University of Surrey is claimed to have become the first UK higher education establishment to benefit from Kodak Graphic Communications Group's (GCG) Nexpress 2100 digital colour press.
New Server Technology Serves High Volume Needs
The introduction of a new Creo Color Server system has been made by Print On Demand Solutions (PODS) Group, an independent unit of Kodak's Graphic Communications Group.
In addition to traditional print providers, photo service retailers now have the opportunity to tap in to a growth market because of the quality, speed and flexibility that the Nexpress digital colour presses provide." He added: "There is a new level of one-to-one communications this technology makes possible that is in sync with how consumers view and want to share photographs of family, friends, special trips and memorable events." Bonusprint in the UK has installed a Nexpress 2100 digital colour press to produce its personalised photo books, greeting cards and calendars, and in doing so has shortened its reaction time and reduced its service time for customers, as well as saving money by offering an in-house service, said Kodak.
Anthony Ward, managing director of Bonusprint, explained: "We were keen to install a Kodak Nexpress press because it is extremely user friendly and provides us with a great deal of flexibility.
It handles with ease the wide variety of substrates we put through it, and has operated well within our expectations.
We can effortlessly personalise the products we offer to our customers and provide them with a highly professional product at a reasonable price.
In addition, the support available from Kodak is second-to-none." He commented that the printing quality of the Nexpress machine was one of the main reasons his company chose it.
By visiting Bonsuprint's website, customers can use their own photos and combine them with hundreds of greeting card designs for holidays, birthdays and special events and occasions.
They can add personal messages and signatures to the cards, which Bonusprint then digitally prints on the Nexpress 2100 and inserts them in to a personalised envelope that carries the customer's return address, before the finished article is despatched to the customer.
In addition, Photosi, one of the leading photo processing companies in Italy with over 4,000 shops countrywide, has used the Nexpress 2100 Plus digital production colour press to expand its business in to digital markets.
With a core photo processing business, it is now one of just two leading companies in Italy to offer a digital service to customers.
As Mirco Orecchini, Photosi's product manager explained, it has opened up a wealth of new ideas for the firm.
He said: "We decided to offer a digital service as this is clearly the way of the future, and there is a growing demand from our customers for personalised items.
The Nexpress press was an obvious choice for us because of its speed of delivery and exceptional print quality, which we are very happy with.
Kodak also offers the Nexglosser glossing unit, which was of great importance to us for the professional finishing of our products." And Orecchini added: "Currently, our primary application for the machine is the production of personalised photo books, which will also soon be available with personalised covers.
We are also looking seriously at using the machine to produce calendars, and who knows what other products we will decide to offer in the future." The Nexpress 2500 press, according to Kodak GCG, is designed for even greater productivity and reliability, maximising Kodak's digital colour press technology and building on Kodak's strengths of quality, consistency, reliability and uptime.
Printers and photofinishers can create additional revenue streams and attract new customers by configuring a Nexpress fifth imaging unit to provide spot colour, watermarking and protective coating, whilst also providing glossing, added the company.
The Nexglosser glossing unit is also said to enable additional printing opportunities for image-rich applications, including book covers, digital photo prints, coffee table books, greeting cards and brochures.
It features Kodak's Nexpress clear dry ink that is claimed to provide enhanced image quality and a laminate like gloss for higher marketing impact.
• Kodak Graphic Communications Group: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Printingtalk email newsletter
• Printingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
