KODAK PROSPER 6000 Presses Unleash the Next-Generation of Printing to Meet Diverse Customer Needs

Kodak continues to exceed industry standards in digital color print with the introduction of the KODAK PROSPER 6000 Presses. With new innovations in transport, drying and writing systems, combined with advanced press management technology, the PROSPER 6000 Presses are a completely new product offering that deliver high levels of reliability, print speed and application flexibility. These enhancements will empower customers in the book, commercial print and newspaper businesses – as well as print service providers of data-driven print applications such as direct mail and transaction – with tools for success.

The PROSPER 6000 Presses are powered by an advanced Intelligent Print System (IPS) that continuously monitors, evaluates and adjusts operations to ensure exceptional quality output. With the improved IPS, the PROSPER 6000 Presses can monitor and instantly correct color registration, delivering enhanced registration performance. The Presses’ writing system runs on Kodak’s newly formulated nanotechnology inks, offering a greater color gamut and delivering print quality that rivals offset output on a wide range of uncoated, coated and glossy papers.

The PROSPER 6000 Presses will be made available in two models:
• KODAK PROSPER 6000C Press, ideal for commercial print applications requiring high ink laydowns.
• KODAK PROSPER 6000P Press, designed specifically for publishing applications such as books and newspapers which typically use light-weight paper and low-to-medium ink laydowns.

Both PROSPER 6000 Presses print at speeds of up to 1,000 feet, or 300 meters, per minute on matted and uncoated papers with a duty cycle of 90 million A4 top quality pages per month – up to 2.5 times faster than the KODAK PROSPER 5000XLi Press. An enhanced drying capability allows heavy-weight glossy and silk stock to be printed on the PROSPER 6000C Press at 650 feet, or 200 meters, per minute.

“Today’s printers need tools that enable them to quickly respond to the needs of their customers, as well as the needs of the business. From book publishing to commercial and newspaper printing, the future of the industry will revolve around digital solutions,” said Doug Edwards, president, Digital Printing & Enterprise, Eastman Kodak Company. “The PROSPER 6000 Presses deliver the highest industry performance coupled with quality approaching 200 lpi, allowing customers to increase agility so they can adapt to the changing demands of the business and better respond to their customers.”

In book printing, printers are looking for ways to enhance revenue potential by shifting to profitable short-run jobs. These print-on-demand jobs reduce inventory costs and allow the printing of shorter runs on a just-in-time basis to meet specific orders. KODAK PROSPER 6000 Presses make it feasible and economical to print up to 200-lpi quality books at production run lengths of up to 3,000 copies. In addition, it can produce millions of offset-like pages month after month and reduce costs associated with obsolescence and warehousing.

Printers in the commercial print space are looking to provide their customers with better response rates for mailings. KODAK PROSPER 6000 Presses can produce high-gloss targeted direct mail pieces for an average of 30% less than using electrophotographic (toner-based) systems. These economics deliver greater return on marketing investments as well as improved efficiency and profitability for production runs of up to one million high-quality mail pieces.

Newspaper printers and publishers need to drive innovation and leverage technology to gain a competitive advantage. Digitally printed newspapers are the same size as offset versions and have the same look and feel, offering a high-quality appearance that is readily accepted by advertisers and readers. The 6000 Presses allow multiple newspaper titles to be produced in very short runs. The right number of newspaper editions needed for each outlet can be produced with sufficiently high productivity for medium-sized markets: 15,000-20,000 newspapers.