Introduced at the INFO*FLEX show in Nashville Advantage NX has been launched to the US market by Kodak.
Pushing the capabilities of the established Flexcel NX technology and focusing on flexible packaging, it includes new screening and imaging features aimed at improving the printing of white ink to ensure fewer pinholes, achieving greater opacity and lower ink volumes; increasing the vibrancy and cleanliness of overprinted colours; achieving better spot colour printing with a smoother ink laydown and clean reverse text; and producing smoother transitions that fade to zero.
The enhancements, which have been under development for two years, include new plate surface patterns for DigiCap NX, a new generation of ‘light valve’ imaging technology, and a new hybrid screening solution, Kodak Maxtone SX screening.
Emma Schlotthauer, worldwide marketing manager packaging solutions, said, ‘The new Kodak Advantage NX has been developed for use on existing Flexcel NX equipment both in terms of the imager and the plate. This means that our customers can offer brand owners a better product without adding complexity to their operation or spending a fortune in technological improvements. Several of our beta test sites are already using it for commercial jobs and have had excellent reactions from the brand owners.’
She continued, ‘The quality improvements that can be achieved when printing white with the new surface screening patterns offer significant cost savings and also a much smoother ink film. We have examples where the job could be printed with just one white layer instead of two.’
Beta testing has started in Europe and the product will be rolled out there over the next few months. Kodak will also be publishing a number of white papers.
