Print Solutions
This year marks Kodak’s 2 -year anniversary as a supplier of true process free printing plates The current Kodak Sonora Xtra process free plate is the result of the company’s continued efforts to drive the sustainable transformation of plate technology through extensive investment in materials research and plate formulation development. The Sonora Xtra plate has taken the benefits of process free technology to an unprecedented level, making the switch from wet processed to process free plates even easier for printers with faster imaging speeds, stronger image contrast and improved handling robustness.
After extensive and successful beta testing in 2004, Kodak launched its first commercially successful process free plate, the Thermal Direct non process plate, in 2005. It was succeeded in 2012 by the Sonora XP process free plate, the first generation of the Sonora line. In 2014, it reached a significant growth milestone by welcoming the 1000th print shop to the Sonora plate user base. By 2019, the number of users had grown to over 4000 printers, and today more than 6000 sheetfed and web offset printers around the world rely on Sonora plates.
The plates improve sustainability credentials as well as reduce costs in both pre-press and the pressroom without compromising print quality or productivity. They eliminate defects and variability associated with traditional plate processing that can provoke press stops and plate remakes. Sonora plates ensure faster and more reliable press makereadies with less waste and reduce job turnaround times thanks to the faster route from pre-press to press. In addition, they help create a healthier and safer working environment for employees.
Users also benefit from the fact that Kodak manufactures the plates in plants in Japan, the USA and Germany from responsibly sourced, high quality aluminum and other raw materials in compliance with high sustainability and quality standards. Plate manufacturing in various regions of the world ensures that printers are supplied with high quality plates reliably, quickly and with the smallest possible carbon footprint for transportation.
‘We are delighted to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of Kodak's process free plates this year. I am proud that we have been able to advance this efficient and sustainable plate technology thanks to the innovation of our research and deevelopment teams and our tireless pursuit of excellence,’ said Jim Continenza, executive chairman and CEO, Kodak. ‘Today, Kodak Sonora Xtra process free plates set the standard in the print marketplace, and we will continue to invest in our unmatched process free technology for the benefit of printers around the world.’
Kodak will highlight the 20th anniversary of its process free plate technology at the drupa 2024 trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany.
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