Rochester, NY, May 15 -- To showcase the unmatched capabilities of the new KODAK FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic System, Kodak wanted to tackle a unique, historic print project that no one has ever dared to try with flexo technology. The company decided on a high quality 300 lpi movie poster, printed exclusively with flexo plates, as part of a Williamson Printing Corporation facility tour during FTA’s INFO*FLEX show in Dallas last month.

During the tour, Williamson employed its newly installed FLEXCEL NX System to image offset separations using offset angles and zero retouching on KODAK FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic Plates. Those plates were then mounted on the coating stations of Williamson’s hybrid HEIDELBERG SPEEDMASTER Sheetfed Offset Press and the posters were printed at 300 lpi with densities in all colors exceeding 2.0.

“This was a very exciting event,” said Emma Schlotthauer, Global Business Director, Flexo Plate Products, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group. “We are very proud to be involved in this stage of flexo history.  If the FLEXCEL NX System can produce such outstanding results under these challenging conditions, just imagine what is being achieved in a regular flexo production environment with these plates.”

More than 100 guests were on hand to witness the accomplishment, and many expressed surprise at the impressive results. The 18 in. x 26 in. four color process posters, printed with permission from Disney, were designed to promote the soon to be released movie Prince Caspian, The Chronicles of Narnia, and will be given out at Kodak’s drupa booth. This process had never been tried before in the industry, and was designed with confidence to showcase the capabilities of the FLEXCEL NX System.

“This print run showed that the FLEXCEL NX System is capable of printing in very high densities without dot bridging,” said Peter Stolt, Director Global Technical Applications, Flexo & Packaging, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, “and printing at 300 lpi provides further confirmation of the FLEXCEL NX Plate’s performance, taking both Kodak and Williamson into the future of flexo technology.”

The FLEXCEL NX System has already been recognized by the industry for its performance and underlying technology. Four projects produced with the FLEXCEL NX System captured awards at the recent FTA event, and the Flexographic Pre-Press Platemakers Association (FPPA) presented one of its three 2008 FPPA Technology Innovator of the Year awards at its annual meeting to the KODAK FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic System.

The FLEXCEL NX System offers users print stability over the entire run; repeatability from job to job; offset class, gravure quality with small highlight dots; and more productivity to get jobs completed more quickly. It is designed for package printers and converters, including tag and label printers, folding carton printers, and flexible packaging printers.

KODAK Products are backed by KODAK Service and Support. KODAK Service and Support is made up of more than 3,000 professionals reaching more than 120 countries. It is a leading multi-vendor integrated services provider, delivering consulting, installation, maintenance and support services for the commercial printing, graphic communications, document imaging and data storage industries. KODAK Service and Support professionals are uniquely qualified to provide services that control costs, maximize productivity, and minimize business risk.