WAN-IFRA: What will newspaper-focused visitors find on the Kodak booth at drupa? What are the highlights?

Philip Cullimore: Visitors will see Kodak's broad range of products, solutions and software for newspaper printers and publishers. They will see commercial inkjet applications and a new family of process-free technology thermal plates for newspapers and workflow software. In addition, Kodak will have preprinted samples for newspaper inserts printed on our S-Series print heads and Versamark presses.

WAN-IFRA: After the insolvency of Eastman Kodak in the US, what are the immediate consequences for Kodak clients in the graphic arts industry?

Philip Cullimore: Let us be clear,  Kodak has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in the U.S. Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code allows companies to restructure while continuing to operate. Companies that file under Chapter 11 have the goal of coming out of Chapter 11 stronger and more efficient.  Most importantly, Kodak is not going out of business.  Kodak is not liquidating. Kodak non US subsidiaries are not included in the filings and they will continue to operate as usual.  

Kodak’s customers will continue to receive the same high quality standards of products and services that they have come to expect.  Kodak will continue to do what it has always done and that is bring products and services to market that help our customers do more, do it better, and do it faster.

 
WAN-IFRA: Will the product range for newspapers stay the same (plates, imagers, processors, software...)?

Philip Cullimore:Kodak is committed to newspaper printers and publishers. Kodak's portfolio of products, solutions and software for newspaper printers will continue to provide industry-leading efficiency and productivity for our customers. Furthermore, we will be announcing significant new products that will bring added benefits to our customers.  

WAN-IFRA: Digital printing is the hope for the future of printing. Will inkjet printing also have a role to play in newspaper production in the foreseeable future (apart from niche applications as we know them today)?

Philip Cullimore: Kodak is committed to inkjet technology for the newspaper industry.  Kodak Prosper S-Series technology is the perfect imprinting complement for Newspaper Printing and Publishing. Additionally our Versamark products are used in various short run international titles in the UK such as Moscow News and the Wall Street Journal.

WAN-IFRA: How great is the level of interest and readiness to invest in environment-friendly products and processes among your clients?

Philip Cullimore: Kodak understands that sustainability is not just about using FSC or PEFC certified grades, it is about evaluating every step in the production process to manage energy usage. With waste eating into as much as 4% to 16% of a printer’s turnover, reducing this can have an immediate impact.  Our business focus today is very much on ways to ensure operations are as lean and productive as they can be. Kodak is helping its customers by providing both software and hardware solutions designed to minimize wastage and maximize production efficiency.

Kodak also works with design teams, suppliers and other partners to determine end-of-life strategies. We promote reuse and responsible recycling with company-supported mechanisms wherever possible and have achieved a 49% reduction in our global greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage at our facilities - a reduction of more than 1.5 million tones which is the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road. Importantly Kodak has helped develop International Standards for Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs).

For newspaper production in particular our KODAK VERSAMARK VL-Series Printing Systems can help reduce natural resource consumption. The VL machines have on-board control systems for greater environmental independence and water-based inks that contain no volatile organic carbon compounds (VOCs). More than 90% of our continuous inkjet printhead components are recycled and remanufactured. Printers will also see a new process-free technology thermal plate for newspaper production, providing benefits in sustainability with top-drawer print quality. This plate offers complete elimination of the plate processor and chemistry, not just the limited environmental benefits of “chemistry free” plates, which still require processing and chemicals. Furthermore, Kodak’s S-Series print heads provide capability to integrate digital print, including sustainability advantages, to existing web/offset technology.    

The interview was conducted beginning of February 2012.