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PRODUCT PORTFOLIO

Star product
Kodak Prosper Ultra 520

The Prosper Ultra does not need to lower speeds to achieve high-quality printing, says Simon Eccles

with offset,” says Goldbarg. “Printers can
move 42% more pages from offset to digi-
tal than competitive presses due to high
productivity and economical running
costs.”
The new ink’s very wide gamut should
please advertisers that want to match
tricky brand colours more accurately.
The UltraStream continuous-flow tech is
also said to be more reliable than piezo
heads, by eliminating jet outs and nozzle
clogging, saving time on cleaning rou-
tines.
Also important is the Kodak Intelligent
Print System, which constantly monitors
and optimises stitching, colour-to-colour
and front-to-back registration. Compared
to competitors (listed above in
Alternatives), Goldbarg says the Ultra
520 does not slow down to achieve high
What does it do? Specifications “Delivering offset quality, 200lpi, at a quality, while its near-infrared drying is
It is a web-fed CMYK perfecting inkjet speed of 152m/minute or 12,950 per- more efficient and effective due to short
press, intended to deliver “offset quality” Process Kodak fected B2 sheets per hour, the press is dwell times.
UltraStream contin-
print on a wide variety of standard uous-flow inkjet perfect for shifting jobs from offset to
papers, including high coverage on glossy digital.” What training and service support is
coatings, without slowing from the speed Ink Water-based offered?
of 152m/minute. It uses Kodak’s nanopigment How does it work?
UltraStream technology, a higher speed/ Prosper Ultra 520 marks Kodak’s first “Like any Prosper Press, the Ultra 520
quality development of its continuous- Colours CMYK plus use of its UltraStream heads, with resolu- is easier to learn and operate than a typi-
flow inkjet system that was first used by primer, 4/4 tion of “200lpi equivalent” and a drop cal offset press and requires less labour
Uteco with its Sapphire Evo W flexible size of 3.75picoliters. The earlier Stream per shift,” says Goldbarg. Kodak offers
packaging press. Perfecting modes heads of the Prosper 5000, 6000 and now
4/4, 4/1, 4/0, 1/1, 1/0 7000 Turbo use air to deflect the droplet direct support of the press with services
When was it launched and what mar- streams, while UltraStream uses charged including workflow process redesign,
kets is it aimed at? Resolution 200lpi metal plates (similar to the earlier Kodak pre-installation project planning, sales
Although originally intended to be at equivalent Versamark models). The inks are water- training, operator training and ongoing
the postponed Drupa 2020, the Hunkeler based, and are said to have “the smallest operator coaching.
Innovationdays event in March 2023 Screening Kodak and most uniform nanoparticulate pig-
marked the effective official launch. It error diffusion or ment distribution with low humectant What does it cost?
was demonstrated printing three “maga- threshold matrix levels, offering an exceptionally large col-
logues” (combined magazines and cata- our gamut, optimum drying efficiency, Like most inkjet web presses, there are
logues) in roll-to-roll configuration with Max speed 152m/ and increased sustainability”. This is said no click charges for the Ultra 520. Kodak
a Hunkeler UW8 unwinder and RW8 minute to be a “95% larger gamut than SWOP”. wouldn’t be drawn on pricing for the
rewinder along with the Hunkeler WI8 It supports variable data as standard
web inspection system. Sheets per hour from all common file formats including Ultra 520, other than to say it was “com-
Denisse Goldbarg, Kodak’s chief mar- 12,950 B2, 4/4 PDF, PDF/VT and AFP - Kodak claims it petitively priced”.
keting officer and head of EAMER sales, is the fastest on the market with integral
says it is aimed at “the mid-volume mar- Max web width VDP. When will installations start?
ket segment and printers that would have 533mm The first will go in by mid-year, Kodak
production volumes around 10 million What is the USP of the product?
A4 images per month”. She adds: “The Prosper Ultra 520 closes the gap expects.

“Prosper Ultra 520 marks Kodak’s first use of its UltraStream heads, with resolution of “200lpi equivalent.”

www.printweekmena.com June 2023 PrintWeek MENA 29