ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 11-Kodak's booth (#1100) at NEXPO 2008 will feature new solutions to help newspaper printers meet demands for improved productivity, quality and flexibility so that they can better manage deadlines, expand the opportunities to meet the needs of readers and advertisers, and increase revenue potential.

"Newspaper printers face daily competitive challenges and our approach is to bring solutions to our customers that deliver speed and flexibility, while offering enhancements that help keep newspapers vital and viable," said Jack Knadjian, Vice President, Worldwide Newspaper Segment and Solutions Marketing, Kodak's Graphic Communications Group. "At NEXPO we are introducing a new KODAK Thermal CTP Device, showcasing new digital plate technology, and displaying a number of other solutions specifically developed for the world that newspapers face today and tomorrow."

The KODAK GENERATION NEWS System has advanced automation features that help newspaper printers save time and reduce errors, making it possible to better manage deadline pressures. The KODAK GENERATION NEWS Platesetter has multiple plate bays, enabling fast plate loading and unloading of multiple plate sizes. Newspaper printers can load up to 1,600 broadsheet plates or 800 panorama plates, running continuously with no operator intervention. Integrated plate size selection, slip sheet removal, transport to the imaging engine, centering, and registration are all automated to eliminate errors.

"With the KODAK GENERATION NEWS System, newspapers will no longer need to make tradeoffs between productivity and quality," said Knadjian. "In addition to a new generation platesetter, we are also bringing new plate solutions to NEXPO specifically designed to meet a range of needs encountered by newspapers. We want newspaper printers to have equipment and consumable options that meet their needs."

KODAK PF-N Non Process Plates are processless thermal plates for newspapers. Compatible with all popular thermal CTP platesetters, the plates provide high quality, consistent imaging performance and easy handling. They develop on press, shortening the platemaking cycle and getting jobs to press more quickly. In addition, the plates eliminate the purchase and maintenance costs associated with plate processors and developer chemistry, while also reducing water usage.

KODAK NS Digital Newspaper Plates are the right choice for printers who require the high resolution printing of thermal CTP and the convenience of no slip sheets. The preheat plates process quickly and cleanly. NS Digital Newspaper Plates are durable on press and off, with run lengths up to 250,000 unbaked and 1 million baked.

Also at the KODAK booth, the KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution will be demonstrated. The Microzone Publishing Solution features a suite of products that creates new revenue streams for newspaper publishers by leveraging the strength of the Internet and the power of traditional printed newspapers. Newspapers can now serve highly localized markets with web and print products that utilize content generated by citizen journalists. The Advanced Technical Solutions (Booth #1700) location at the show will also demonstrate the KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution.

KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS Thermal Platesetters will be demonstrated at NEXPO at the Anocoil (Booth #1010) and Southern Lithoplate (Booth #1332) locations, illustrating the flexibility of KODAK Devices. MAN Roland (Booth #1300) will have a display in its space at NEXPO about the use of KODAK VERSAMARK DP6240 Printer technology with MAN Roland COLORMAN newspaper presses to allow updating late breaking news and sports headlines, while also facilitating customized zoned pricing for advertisers, and gaming applications for bingo and lottery contests.

During the Capital Conference '08 being held in conjunction with NEXPO, Phil Faraci, President and Chief Operating Officer, Eastman Kodak Company, will speak on an NAA AGM panel at 10:30 a.m. on April 15 about "Innovation – Successful Change Happens." Faraci will discuss how innovations, such as the KODAK Microzone Publishing Solution, are meeting the needs of newspapers and helping them innovate to keep pace with the market.

     The TRENDSETTER NEWS Thermal Platesetter CTP device comes in six models, ranging in speed from 60 plates per hour to more than 240 plates per hour to suit newspaper printing facilities of all sizes. The TRENDSETTER NEWS Thermal Platesetter delivers fast, reliable imaging with a standard file format interface for newspaper production systems. It is available with semiautomatic or fully automated plate loading and unloading. The machine to machine accuracy of the KODAK SQUARESPOT Thermal Imaging Heads, combined with the binary nature of thermal imaging, achieves consistent and repeatable halftone dot structures.

    KODAK THERMALNEWS GOLD Digital Plates meet the rigorous demands of newspaper printing while delivering outstanding resolution for premium newspaper printing and commercial quality printing. THERMALNEWS GOLD Plates offer run lengths of more than 200,000 impressions without postbaking. Rapid imaging and processing, faster makeready and plate reliability gives newspapers extra editorial time, and the clean working, low pH, low consumption developer reduces processing costs.

    The KODAK PRINERGY EVO Workflow System helps newspapers deal with last minute changes easily, without causing delays. Based on the latest standards and proven PRINERGY System technology, PRINERGY EVO Software delivers exceptional PDF processing capabilities. A flexible PDF workflow featuring proven color management, late stage editing and imposition, and advanced screening options to optimize output on TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter CTP devices, PRINERGY EVO Systems help deliver the automation, speed, control, and flexibility that newspapers need to accommodate tight editorial and ad deadlines and output large numbers of pages more quickly.

    KODAK PREPS Imposition Software supports POSTSCRIPT, PDF, EPS, DCS and TIFF source files. It works with all KODAK and many major third party workflow systems. PREPS Imposition Software helps prepress professionals remove even more manual steps from their preferred workflow by providing digital imposition. PREPS Software accepts more than 200 types of file inputs. PREPS Imposition Software enhances prepress efficiency and enables greater postpress reliability by automatically generating bar codes that can be read by WST and MULLER MARTINI bar code readers.

KODAK STACCATO Screening produces high fidelity, artifact free images that exhibit fine detail and more impactful color in newspapers. STACCATO Screening creates images without halftone rosettes, screening moiré, gray level limitations, or abrupt jumps in tone-with no impact on RIPing time. KODAK SQUARESPOT Imaging Technology enables the fine dot structure of STACCATO Screening to be a reliable and practical solution for newspaper printing and an effective competitive edge for publishers.

 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.