VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Kodak is taking advantage of WAN-IFRA World Publishing Expo (October 10, to 12, 2016, Vienna Exhibition Center) to announce enhancements to its highly automated thermal CTP portfolio for newspaper. Since Kodak’s invention of thermal plate imaging technology 21 years ago, the company has shipped over 21,000 CTP units worldwide, of which over 2,500 are newspaper CTP’s. These new options will give newspaper printers more speed, efficiency and control in the platemaking process. 

Higher speed imaging provides increased throughput and efficiency

Kodak has successfully introduced a 16% laser power improvement for both the KODAK GENERATION NEWS and the KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetters, meaning newspaper printers can image more plates in a shorter time. Thanks to the additional laser power, the throughput of the GENERATION NEWS Platesetter Z-speed version has increased from 258 to 277 KODAK SONORA NEWS Process Free Plates per hour while that of the TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter V-speed version is up from 116 to 129 plates. Kodak intends to make this enhancement commercially available as a standard feature in the first quarter of 2017.

The new, ultra-high speed imaging technology christened “W speed” is another optional addition to the KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter, leading to huge productivity leaps. When used together with the SONORA NEWS Process Free Plate and the Autoloader option, it boosts the throughput of the TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter from 150 to 240 plates per hour, or in the configuration with the Single-Cassette Unit (SCU) from 116 to 150 plates. Kodak also enables easy integration into existing plate lines with optional single or dual plate rotation. The new W-speed option will be released in Q2 2017. 

Full control over platemaking – anytime, anywhere

Kodak has also announced recently the new, Mobile CTP Control app specifically designed for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. This app lets Kodak customers monitor multiple CTP systems conveniently and efficiently. Users can get immediate feedback on their platemaking process via the Internet anywhere in the world.Against the background of today’s ever changing business demands, this app allows them to operate proactively and be more flexible. The new Kodak Mobile CTP Control app will be commercially available early 2017.

Enhancements for more sustainability and greater resource conservation

Measures to improve sustainability and resource conservation are critical to Kodak and its customers. To meet this need, the KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter features a new cooling system that improves power savings by an additional 30% compared to the initial design, namely down to as low as 770 watts while imaging. The TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter also comes with a new, shorter unload table which reduces the footprint of the CTP configuration and enables more efficient use of valuable floor space.

Newspaper printers can make a significant contribution to resource conservation by opting for the KODAK SONORA NEWS Process Free Plate. This newspaper printing plate does away altogether with the traditional processor – and with it the consumption of water, power, and chemicals – speeding up and generally streamlining the platemaking process accordingly.

“These newest enhancements to our CTP solutions are further evidence of Kodak’s faith in the future of newspaper and coldset web offset printing,” said Brad Kruchten, President of Kodak’s Print Systems Division. “They enable our customers in the newspaper industry to adapt the productivity, efficiency, and sustainability of their platemaking process to the demands of today’s markets.”