Kodak is helping City Press Ltd. pioneer the next level of performance and quality for digital printing in Canada. City Press is the first commercial printer in the province of Manitoba to install a KODAK NEXPRESS SX2700 Digital Color Press. With a maximum sheet size of 14 inches by 26 inches and the Intelligent Color Option for more accurate color reproduction, the NEXPRESS Press both strengthens and expands City Press’ capabilities for services such as direct mail and variable-data printing.

“I keep saying wow when I look at the results off the press. From brochures to menus to business cards, we seem to be able to print it all,” said Ken Giesbrecht, President and Owner, City Press Ltd. “The high quality and large variety of work we are able to produce on the NEXPRESS Press surprises me every day.”

High quality is important to City Press, which has its roots in offset printing. The growing customer demand for short-run jobs, however, required the agility of digital. City Press will enable the smooth transition of jobs between offset and digital using the Intelligent Color Option, which can accurately reproduce up to 86 percent of PANTONE Colors.

City Press is also using Kodak’s Fifth Imaging Unit to enable the production of light black and apply clear ink and glossing. In-line dimensional printing, which is unique in the industry, will also be available to City Press customers. High-quality glossing through KODAK PERFECT TOUCH Gloss technology is possible using KODAK NEXPRESS Clear Dry Ink in conjunction with the near-line KODAK NEXPRESS Glossing Unit.

The NEXPRESS Digital Color Platform also includes powerful image enhancement tools, such as Kodak’s Print Genius image processing technology, to optimize color accuracy and image quality. A range of substrate options and productivity features allow City Press to use the NEXPRESS Press to produce a range of applications including brochures, personalized marketing collateral, direct mail, packaging and labeling.

A modular design makes the NEXPRESS Press completely field upgradable with options that deliver value for additional revenue opportunities. The latest enhancements for the Fifth Imaging Unit include Gold, Pearlescent and Neon Pink printing effects. Other applications of the Fifth Imaging Unit include watermarking, protection coating, MICR printing, gamut expansion, red fluorescing ink for security and workflow applications.

City Press purchased the press from Spicers, a Canadian dealer. Spicers is a leading supplier of fine paper products to the commercial print and graphics arts community. Its capabilities include a wide range of quality paper products for commercial print needs. Spicers maintains strong relationships with a global network of premier paper mills to offer customers products for virtually any application.

“The NEXPRESS Digital Color Platform helps customers such as City Press make a bold statement about market advantages afforded by digital without compromise,” said Greg Running, Kodak’s Solutions Sales Specialist for Digital Printing Solutions, Canada. “The capabilities enabled by Kodak’s digital technology are also backed by ongoing business development initiatives to help City Press attract new opportunities that generate sustainable revenue.”