WATERLOO, BELGIUM, April 28 -- Kodak's Graphic Communications Group beat its sales targets and booked more than twice as many orders as anticipated at the IPEX 2006 show held earlier this month in Birmingham, U.K. “Our goal was to demonstrate Kodak's transformation into the provider of the broadest range of products and integrated solutions for the industry, and to show customers how KODAK solutions can help their businesses be more successful and profitable,” says Israel Sandler, Vice President and Managing Director of Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, Europe, Africa and Middle East Region. “That is a strong message and it was enthusiastically received by our customers and prospects – the pipeline for future business is robust. IPEX was the first major international show to feature Kodak's new brand identity, and the new look also helped us demonstrate the transformation of the business.” Kodak showed a number of new products at the event and a host of products were shown for the first time in Europe, including the KODAK NEXPRESS 2500 digital production color press and the new KODAK NEXGLOSSER glossing unit. The KODAK MAGNUS 800 platesetter also received its European launch, as did the KODAK Enterprise Management Solution (EMS) Software, a complete business workflow solution for the graphic communications industry that represents a new approach to print management information systems (MIS). Also on display were the next generation KODAK VERIS digital proofer, and the new KODAK THERMOFLEX Hybrid platesetters that provide users with the flexibility to image offset plates, flexographic and letterpress plates, and film – all on one device. Kodak also announced that 150 accounts have been signed for the KODAK THERMAL DIRECT Non Process Printing Plate since it began shipping in Europe at the beginning of the year, and more accounts were signed during IPEX. Workflow was an important topic at the show, and visitors to Kodak's IPEX stand also learned how a KODAK Unified Workflow solution establishes a platform for increasing revenue opportunities, expanding service offerings, and enhancing operational efficiencies. KODAK Unified Workflow solutions are targeted at providing an end-to-end digital infrastructure for conventional and digital printing that integrates business, production, and color workflows, using innovative software tools, open standards and intelligent automation. Powerful product portfolio leads to sales success Kodak experienced strong demand across its portfolio. “By Sunday every machine on our stand had a customer's name on it,” adds Sandler. “What's more, many customers came to our booth because they were familiar with one part of our product range, and we were able to show them other added-value solutions such as the NEXPRESS and KODAK VERSAMARK digital printing products. In fact we booked a record number of NEXPRESS product orders and the majority came from commercial printers who are investing in digital for the first time.”