Kodak has announced the launch of its new KODAK SONORA UltraXR Process Free Plates across the EAMER region, covering Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, with applications targeting packaging, commercial, and newspaper printing sectors using offset technologies.
The new plates will replace SONORA XTRA-2 and XTRA-2 for Newspapers Process Free Plates in the region, while production of SONORA XTRA-2 and XTRA-2 for Newspapers plates in Europe will be discontinued.
Kodak said the SONORA UltraXR Plates are designed to deliver improved print stability and image performance for sheetfed and web offset printers, including packaging converters producing cartons, labels, promotional packaging materials, and other printed packaging applications. The plates are part of Kodak’s process-free portfolio, which eliminates the need for traditional plate processing chemicals and related water consumption.
According to the company, the new plates offer image contrast up to four times stronger than competitive products, along with five times better white light exposure tolerance. Kodak added that the plates can maintain image stability for up to six weeks when stored in the dark.
The plates are rated for up to 400,000 impressions on heatset and coldset web presses, 250,000 impressions on sheetfed presses, and 115,000 impressions for UV-ink applications commonly used in packaging and commercial print production.
Manufacturing of SONORA UltraXR Plates will take place at Kodak’s facility in Osterode, Germany. Kodak stated that producing the plates within Europe will support quicker supply to customers across EAMER while reducing transportation-related carbon emissions.
Commenting on the launch, Jim Continenza, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kodak, said: “Kodak has invested millions in R&D to foster continuous innovation and provide the highest performing process free plates available on the market. SONORA UltraXR Plates are the latest product of these efforts, from which sheetfed and web offset printers in EAMER can now benefit. And best of all, our print customers receive these further improved plates at no additional cost.”