ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 26—Anchor Imaging is the first print provider in North America to install a KODAK NEXPRESS 2500 digital production color press. In just a few short weeks, the Long Island company discovered that the NEXPRESS 2500 system’s speed, productivity, and inline features open new markets for customers who require short run and variable data printing. “We were doing short run jobs using a different technology and just could not produce them cost effectively or as quickly as customers wanted,” said Vinnie Nicholes, President, Anchor Imaging. “With the NEXPRESS 2500 press we can handle these types of projects much more efficiently and often offer our customers same day service.” The NEXPRESS 2500 press is designed to deliver greater productivity and reliability, leveraging Kodak’s award winning digital production color press technology recognized for its quality, consistency and uptime. Additionally, the NEXPRESS 2500 press comes with a variety of service agreement offerings, delivered by KODAK Service & Support, a leading service provider in the commercial print industry. The added capabilities of the NEXPRESS 2500 press have caught the attention of several advertising agencies, research firms and other marketing oriented companies that work with Anchor Imaging. “The speed and quality of the NEXPRESS 2500 system have really impressed our customers,” Nicholes said. “They often bring us jobs that they need immediately for a mailing or a trade show, so time is of the essence. The NEXPRESS 2500 press is helping us to get business on rush projects.” Anchor Imaging decided to add a KODAK NEXGLOSSER glossing unit to its NEXPRESS 2500 press, which has been useful on book covers, postcards and similar materials. The KODAK NEXGLOSSER glossing unit features KODAK NEXPRESS clear dry ink that delivers enhanced image quality and a laminate like gloss for higher marketing impact. “Our customers love the NEXGLOSSER unit,” Nicholes said. “We use it to apply a protective coating and it really pumps up colors. As a unique feature with the NEXPRESS 2500 press, it really helps sets us apart.” Printers can create additional revenue streams and attract new customers by configuring the NEXPRESS 2500 press with a KODAK NEXPRESS fifth imaging unit solution to deliver spot color, watermarking and protective coating, and enable high impact glossing. According to Nicholes, Anchor Imaging also used the NEXPRESS 2500 press to produce self-promotional mailers for two recent special events. Anchor Imaging held an open house on June 9, preceded that day by seminars hosted in cooperation with Kodak on “Designing for Digital” at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ronkonkoma, N.Y. Personalized invitations were sent to customers and prospects. “The speed and flexibility of the KODAK NEXPRESS 2500 press in handling variable data printing projects is a major leap forward for print providers in answering the needs of customers who want to get the attention of prospects and help increase response rates,” said Mike Howard, Vice President, Marketing, Digital Printing Solutions, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group. Another advantage of the digital technology is that proofs are taken right from the NEXPRESS 2500 press, eliminating any guess work. “What customers see is what they get. They know exactly what the colors are going to be,” Nicholes said. “When you can supply an actual press proof, you are guaranteed the customer will like the final piece.”