La Hulpe, Belgium - Attendees at Ipex 2010 will be the first to see the industry-changing KODAK PROSPER 5000XL Press. The color press, driven by KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology, will run in Kodak's stand, 9-E320.

"The launch of the PROSPER 5000XL Press marks a turning point in the digital print market, bringing previously unattainable levels of quality, productivity and total cost of ownership to print service providers and their customers that serve the book, direct mail, and catalog markets," said Kevin Joyce, Worldwide Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Digital Printing Solutions, Kodak. "Through demonstrations, samples and testimonials, visitors to our stand will learn how the PROSPER 5000XL Press delivers digital without compromise."

The color PROSPER 5000XL Press and monochrome KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press provide consistency from press to press and job to job, making it easy for printers to ensure maximum productivity and uptime. The family of PROSPER Products also includes the KODAK PROSPER S10 and S5 Imprinting Systems, monochrome continuous inkjet solutions for inline digital printing on high-speed web presses, finishing equipment and mailbases.

In a related announcement made today at a pre-Ipex press event, Rotomail Italia is set to become the first Kodak customer in Europe to install the revolutionary new KODAK PROSPER 5000XL Press. This news follows earlier announcements of upcoming PROSPER installations at Consolidated Graphics, Offset Paperback Manufacturers and Webcrafters.

KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology: In a Class of Its Own
Based on innovative KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology, PROSPER Solutions make it possible for print service providers to produce offset class output in terms of quality, productivity and cost for their clients, while offering the unique ability to print permanently on glossy coated papers. KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology serves as Kodak's latest revolutionary technology in continuous inkjet, which Kodak developed more than 40 years ago.

With Stream Inkjet Technology, speed and accurate drop placement are ensured using a continuous flow of ink through inkjet nozzles at a very high volume. The stream of ink is then stimulated by thermal energy to break it into individual droplets. These drops of ink are then thrust from the nozzles at a very high rate of speed to guarantee excellent drop placement accuracy and image quality. Stream Inkjet Technology uses air deflection and silicon nozzles to deliver uniform ink droplet size and accurate droplet placement with a drop generation speed over 400KHz, producing image quality approaching up to175 line screen (lpi) at speeds up to 650 feet per minutes (200 meters per minute) in a process color environment.

An enclosed and secure jetting module forms the core of Stream Inkjet Technology solutions. The jetting module contains a single row of high-velocity jetting nozzles for fast printing speeds that deliver ink to paper with simplicity and reliability, all in a single pass. To further enhance productivity and maximize uptime, jetting modules can easily be changed by the operator in a matter of minutes.

Kodak's proprietary inks for Stream Inkjet Technology boast an advanced formulation to further enhance print quality, permanence and durability while offering the unique ability to print on glossy coated substrates. Providing exceptional vibrancy, color gamut and color consistency, these high-performance inks won't clog jetting modules, which contributes to reliability and productivity. In addition, due to the continuous flow of ink through nozzles, the inks require minimal wetting agents which keep the inkjet nozzles clean and help extend the life of the jetting module. Due to the lack of wetting agent in the ink, printing and drying on coated and glossy papers are improved with an appearance similar to offset print.

PROSPER Press Platform Opens New Opportunities
The first installation of a PROSPER 1000 Press will begin later this month at Offset Paperback Manufacturers (OPM), a Bertelsmann company, in Laflin, Penn. OPM chose the KODAK PROSPER Press Platform with an integrated MULLER MARTINI SIGMALINE in-line finishing system for its book printing operation.

The PROSPER Press Platform enables print and marketing service providers the ability to maximize production and supply chain efficiencies, and improve return on marketing investment. For book publishers, the PROSPER Press Platform provides an ideal solution for short-run books with economics that drive operational and supply chain efficiencies for run lengths up to 7000 books.

"With continuous inkjet solutions such as KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology, we are seeing a reduction in costs and significant improvement in quality," said Bill Lamparter of PrintCom Consulting. "Led by PROSPER Products, we'll see continuous growth in the application areas for inkjet-from books to direct mail and others."

PROSPER 5000XL and 1000 Presses are up to 38% more productive than competitive inkjet systems and feature a print speed of up to 650 fpm (200 mpm) with image quality approaching up to 175 lpi, and a monthly duty cycle of up to 120 million A4 pages. The presses are able to handle both coated and uncoated papers, including glossy coated, with basis weights ranging from 45 gsm-175 gsm (30 lbs-120 lbs) on the PROSPER 1000 Press and 45 gsm-300 gsm (30 lbs-200 lbs) on the PROSPER 5000XL Press.

A modular and scaleable architecture means that customers can leverage investments in the PROSPER 1000 Press to easily upgrade in the field to a PROSPER 5000XL Press, ensuring they have the best configuration to meet their needs. The PROSPER Press Platform has a 20% lower cost of operation and is 10 times more reliable than thermal inkjet products.

The PROSPER Press Platform will be driven by the KODAK 700 Print Manager, a front-end system enabling high-quality variable data printing at the full rated speed of 650 fpm for the entire range of target applications. The KODAK 700 Print Manager accepts and processes a variety of data streams, including PDF, POSTSCRIPT, PPML-GA, PPML-VDX, VPS, and AFP/IPDS. The KODAK 700 Print Manager also offers industry-leading color management for a greater level of quality assurance and process automation. The optimized interface between the KODAK 700 Print Manager and KODAK PRINERGY Workflow System provides advanced automation, making it easier for print providers to blend offset and digital printing technology.

Kodak is developing finishing solutions for the PROSPER Press Platform with a number of industry leaders, including Hunkeler, Muller Martini and Lasermax Roll Systems. Finishing solutions will be provided for a wide range of applications such as roll to roll, book blocks, perfect bound books, saddlestitched books, signatures, and fanfolded and cut sheet output.