At PRINT 13, Kodak Embraces Opportunities to Engage with Customers and Recognize Award Winners

Kodak is taking advantage of PRINT 13 to deliver on its ongoing strategy of emphasizing customer-focused activities. During the largest printing and graphic communications event in North America, Kodak is participating in a variety of events and forums to directly engage with customers, listen and share how Kodak’s continued innovations can help them grow their businesses. PRINT 13 takes place Sept. 8-12 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Customers looking to meet and talk with Kodak executives and experts are invited to stop by Kodak’s Customer Center (3187) to learn about the company’s broad portfolio of graphic communications, prepress and print solutions. Customers also will have the opportunity to hear Antonio M. Perez, Kodak chairman and CEO share an update on Kodak’s emergence and exciting news about continued innovation.

Partner booths throughout the show floor will feature demonstrations of a variety of KODAK solutions. Lastly, Kodak and its customers will be participating in industry events, and a number of customers will be recognized for printing excellence at industry award presentations.

“Kodak’s goal for PRINT 13 is simple—we want to have as many meaningful business discussions with our current and potential customers as possible,” said John O’Grady, regional Managing director, U.S. & Canada Region and vice president, Kodak. “When everything is said and done, we’ll be successful if we’ve been able to inspire attendees to evaluate streamlining workflow, to consider making their offset press digital or to expand the types and value of the applications they are offering to their clients. We want to talk about what’s possible today and how it can have a tremendous impact on business.”

Kicking off the event, Kodak customers will be widely recognized at the prestigious 2013 Premier Print Awards Gala featuring the InterTech Technology Awards. Kodak will be recognized at the PIA ceremony as a recipient of the esteemed InterTech Award for the innovative KODAK Flexcel Direct System. This year’s InterTech Technology Award marks the third time Kodak has received recognition from Printing Industries of America for its flexographic solutions.

The Printing Industries of America Gala follows, and is a celebration of print excellence and customers from around the world. More than 75 award-winning entries were made using Kodak equipment and solutions. One of the many award-winning Kodak customers, PDI, will have its INNOVATION book recognized as an outstanding achievement in print production, winning Benny Awards in both the categories of Digital Print-Brochures and Print Self-Promotion. PDI credits its KODAK NEXPRESS Press heavily for its success.

“The feedback that we have received from our clients regarding the INNOVATION book has been incredible,” said Jamie Barbieri, president of PDI. “Our customers love the new and unique added-value applications such as the raised dimensional varnish; the larger format sheet; the enhanced fifth color printing unit for fluorescent, pearlescent and metallic colors; as well as the UV Varnish effects that can all be incorporated into marketing print communications to enhance and increase ROMI. The adoption of these special print techniques has been rapid and continues to grow every day, both with our existing clients, as well as with new clients who have come to PDI for this unique offering.”

Customer successes will continue to shine the following night at the Gold Ink Awards, where outstanding print work will be recognized and Hall of Fame inductees will be honored. Kodak customer Fry Communications will receive multiple Gold Ink Awards recognitions that Kodak’s prepress and digital technologies helped bring to life.

“We are incredibly proud of our craftsmen,” said Melissa Durborow, director of marketing at Fry. “The Fry culture, from upper management the whole way through to individual operators, is one of relentless commitment to quality improvement. Throughout every day, every shift, every investment and every process, our underlying purpose is to improve our services and our product. Winning these Gold Inks validates what Fry is all about.”

Also during the event, Kodak’s Chris Payne, vice president of business to business marketing, will be inducted into the Soderstrom Society. The Soderstrom Awards Dinner is named for the late Walter E. Soderstrom, one of the founders of NAPL, and recognizes the contributions of industry leaders, including printing firm owners, equipment manufacturers, consultants and educators.

PRINT 13 attendees can see KODAK Technology in action for themselves in a variety of partner booths, including ACTEGA Kelstar, Baum, CP Bourg, EFI, GSS/Adphos, MCS, Komori, Konica Minolta, Ricoh and TEC Lighting.