drupa – a tale of two Kodaks
Keeping a firewall between two divisions sees Kodak making two presentations to the international media conference in Düsseldorf. But the main game was always going to be GCG.
The Creo Color Server line of products has long been considered one of the most sophisticated systems for driving digital workflows in the graphic arts industry. It grew out of the Vancouver-based pioneering prepress company that was eventually taken over by Kodak in its creation of GCG. Now badged as PODS (Print On Demand Solutions) it delivers high-end RIPS with colour and VDP capabilities to a wide range of suppliers, some of who compete with Kodak on other levels.
It fell to Judi Hess, general manager, enterprise solutions, GCG, (pictured) to make the introduction of Nuevo Technology, the latest developments of the software, even though she technically does not work for the division. She is, however, as a former Creo president, the most high profile person associated with the product line.
Both her and Ilana Jucha, general manager, PODS were at pains to emphasise that the division is an independent entity, able to work with every other graphic arts company, including putative Kodak competitors, such as Fuji Xerox, HP and Konica Minolta. It is not such an uncommon situation in a world where some products gain pervasive market share and niche capabilities.
The new Nuevo Technology to be released at drupa is claimed to deliver ten times performance improvement in high-end digital press out such as transpromo, photo-rich applications and direct mail.
Kodak GCG is the main show at drupa
However significant the arrival of Nuevo is to PODS, Kodak GCG’s main drupa thrust is centred on its Unified Workflow. This comprehensive software solution has many functions that are considered best in class. There is a new series of features and function in the Prinergy Workflow System along with new versions of Insite for variable data printing.
It was interesting to see Judi Hess back up on stage a second time during the GCG presentation wearing her enterprise solutions hat. If anything it only serves to emphasize the wealth of intellectual property that Kodak has acquired on its way towards becoming the graphic arts company it is.
It is bringing to drupa the fruits of its acquisitions in the field of digital printing with the latest NexPress S-Series using both PODS and Adobe Print Engine front ends.
In addition much attention will be on the Stream Concept Press, which will be on display for the first time. Billed as the next generation of continuous inkjet technology it promises higher resolution, smaller ink droplet size, and faster generations of drops. With Stream Technology, mild heat fluctuations of the surface of the ink result in the formation of ink droplets at high speed. Capable of producing 2,500 A4 (letter sized) pages per minute, Stream Technology uses pigment inks to provide permanence on coated papers and a range of other commercial printing substrates.
There will also be the latest higher-resolution Versamark V-Series with image resolution of 600 x 600 dpi and operates at maximum production capacity of 1,090 A4 (letter sized) impressions per minute. New front ends from PODS will drive both the Stream Concept Press and the Versamark VL2000.
It fell to Judi Hess, general manager, enterprise solutions, GCG, (pictured) to make the introduction of Nuevo Technology, the latest developments of the software, even though she technically does not work for the division. She is, however, as a former Creo president, the most high profile person associated with the product line.