KODAK CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF PROCESS FREE

Kodak is celebrating its 20-year anniversary as manufacturer and supplier of process-free printing plates, and says the current Kodak Sonora Xtra Process Free Plate is the result of extensive investment in materials research and plate formulation development.

With the Sonora Xtra Plate, Kodak says it has made the switch from wet processed to process-free plates easier for printers, with faster imaging speeds, stronger image contrast and improved handling robustness.

After successful beta testing in 2004, Kodak launched its first commercially successful process-free plate, the Kodak Thermal Direct Non Process Plate, at drupa in 2005. It was succeeded in 2012 by the Kodak Sonora XP Process Free Plate, the first generation of Sonora Plates. In 2014, Kodak reached a significant growth milestone by welcoming the 1000th print shop to the Sonora Plate user base. By 2019, the number of Sonora Plate users had grown to 4,000 printers, and today it says 6,000 sheetfed and web offset printers around the world rely on Sonora Plates.

Kodak says the Sonora Process Free Plates are aimed at printers looking to improve their sustainability credentials, as well as reducing costs in both prepress and the pressroom, but without compromising print quality or productivity. Kodaks says the plates 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 prepress to press, according to Kodak.

“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 R&D 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.”