New Columbus, Georgia manufacturing line to support Kodak commitment to increase the sustainability of the printing industry, while also reducing printing costs 

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Kodak today opened a new manufacturing line at its Columbus, Georgia facility which will produce its KODAK SONORA Process Free Plates. More than 2,700 printers around the world have embraced the SONORA Process Free Plates because they deliver the productivity, quality and print capabilities of mainstream processed plates while completely eliminating the need for plate processing. The company marked the opening of this new manufacturing line with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Eastman Kodak Company CEO, Jeff Clarke; President, Print Systems Division and Senior Vice President Eastman Kodak Company, Brad Kruchten; community leaders and customers.

The state-of-the-art manufacturing line is designed to meet increasing demand for SONORA Process Free Plates, which eliminate the water, chemical and energy use required by processed plates without sacrificing quality or productivity. As a result, Kodak is helping its customers be competitive, save money and reduce environmental impact, all at the same time, without compromise. Printers use SONORA Process Free Plates to produce a variety of print applications including commercial print, books, newspapers and packaging.

“Today’s opening of this new manufacturing line keeps us on an accelerated pace toward our goal of helping printers become more sustainable with SONORA Process Free Plates,” said Jeff Clarke, CEO, Eastman Kodak Company. “Kodak is committed to providing solutions that increase the sustainability of the printing industry, while also reducing printing costs. This is good business and good for our environment.”

“To remain competitive in an evolving market, companies such as Kodak need access to high-quality resources that can be found in Georgia,” said Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. “Kodak’s decision to expand existing facilities here speaks to the strength and vitality of Georgia’s business climate and labor force.”

Because SONORA Process Free Plates don't use processing chemistry, printers can remove their processing equipment. Without processing equipment, printers can completely eliminate their water, chemical and energy usage related to processing plates, which saves the average printer using 20,000 square meters of plates up to $99,000 annually.