Kodak expertise on how to create a dynamic newspaper printing production proposition proved to be a major attraction for visitors at this year’s WAN-IFRA World Publishing Expo 2013 in Berlin. Keen market interest in understanding where future developments lie was clear at the event, which enjoyed a 20% lift in visitor attendance to 8,500, up from last year’s 7,000.

“The market is undergoing a crucial period of change following pressure from online and mobile communications,” comments Philip Cullimore, Regional Managing Director EAMER.  “Maintaining competitiveness is down to the ability to increase content flexibility and therefore value. This is why dynamic, more targeted content from codes to full pages enables publishers to add value and develop a product that encourages reader loyalty.” Some customers and prospects saw this capability for themselves when they toured a nearby Axel Springer production centre in Spandau. There they watched exactly what KODAK PROSPER S30 Imprinting Systems can achieve.

“The visit to Axel Springer gave customers a great opportunity to get a close look at the printing heads in action,” adds Cullimore. “They could also talk to the team from Axel Springer and learn first-hand about the implementation process right up to the day-to-day applications and promotions now possible. We were particularly pleased to welcome representatives from News UK which recently placed the UK’s largest order for 22 PROSPER S30 Imprinting Systems.”

Those unable to make the trip to Axel Springer could watch a video on the stand highlighting how Axel Springer’s Ahrensburg newspaper printing plant has used the KODAK PROSPER S30 Imprinting System to help increase circulation and provide new variable data advertising services. The solution imprints variable components, including consecutive lottery numbers, variable QR codes, and changing artwork, across a width of up to 10.56cm at full production speed. Its creation of gaming products in Bild, one of Germany’s largest newspapers, were among the examples featured on a sample wall where visitors can learn more.

Another on stand video detailed Kodak’s installation at NEWS UK publisher of The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times. It has mounted the 22 KODAK PROSPER S30 Imprinting Systems inline on its offset presses at its Newsprinters's sites Broxbourne, Knowsley and Eurocentral, and at contract sites in Kells (Ireland) and Belfast.

The benefits and opportunities created by KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology were further presented by IPS Sales Support Manager Rainer Küssel while the technology was showcased alongside other market-leading solutions developed to help newspaper and semi-commercial newspaper printers achieve high-quality results cost effectively. These included the offset class KODAK PROSPER 5000XLi Press, KODAK VERSAMARK VL4200 Printing System, KODAK THERMALNEWS PT Digital Plates and KODAK SONORA NEWS Process Free Plates.

The faster, high quality KODAK PROSPER 5000XLi Press, with its wider web width of 620mm enabling the printing of broadsheet newspapers without shrinkage, is expanding the newspaper markets that can use inkjet technology. It runs at 200mpm and with Kodak’s nano-particulate pigment inks and a print resolution of 600X600 dpi, it provides a higher print quality, and can print on a much broader range of papers. It incorporates Intelligent Print System (IPS) to detect variations and make on the fly adjustments.

Full-page digital color variable printing, is made possible by the KODAK VERSAMARK VL4200 Printing System. The VL4200 can run at 125mpm (410fpm) at a resolution of 600 x 360 dpi and it aids client acquisition and retention objectives, and improves their bottom line.

Ways to improve competitiveness was also a hot topic at WAN-IFRA. It was addressed by KODAK THERMALNEWS PT Digital Plates, that provide the print quality and stability of thermal plates, while eliminating the preheat and prewash from processing to save electricity and water and reduce process variability. The only processed newspaper plate that eliminates the preheat step, the THERMALNEWS PT Plate can achieve the same long run lengths as KODAK THERMALNEWS GOLD Plates, while allowing printers to lower their operational costs and save energy and water. Then there was the KODAK SONORA NEWS Process Free Plate.

This thermal newspaper plate totally eliminates plate processing equipment and processing chemistry, reducing the maintenance and energy costs of processing while improving process control for greater quality and more efficient operations. SONORA NEWS Plates reduce costs and environmental impact, and because there is no processing step, printers can get to press quickly and efficiently. Designed for medium to large newspaper operations, SONORA NEWS Plates offer fast imaging speeds and the capability to run in automated prepress departments.

Kodak also highlighted its partnership with wobe-team’s WNEWSNET Workflow that aids smooth digital production from data in a newspaper prepress department to automation of plate production, data control and data processing. The scalable solution offers a comprehensive newspaper workflow, including PDF management tools with preflight and correct functionality, color-consistent soft proofing tools, ink-saving benefits with the PDF-InkAdjust feature, and third-party integration capabilities to deliver a fully automatic production system.

Cullimore concludes: “WAN-IFRA was a very positive show all round and we look forward to announcing the conclusion of a number of successful deals the show helped to generate.” Next year’s World Publishing Expo will be held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 13 to 15 October 2014.