Six technologies from five companies marked the InterTech stars 2010

Kodak again shines with two prestigious awards

Printing Industries of America has announced the recipients of the 2010 InterTech Technology Awards. Six innovative technologies from five companies – FUJIFILM, Heidelberg, HIFLEX, Kodak, and Printing Research Inc – were selected to receive the award, in which two technologies are from Kodak. Recognized as a symbol of technological innovation and excellence, the InterTech stars will be presented before an audience of industry leaders on October 03 in Chicago (US). Kodak Prosper S10 imprinting system Six innovative technologies selected to receive the 2010 InterTech Technology Awards included: ZAC automated controller technology module, (Fujifilm North America, Graphic Systems Division); HIFLEX Webshop (HIFLEX); Kodak DigiCap NX screening and Kodak Prosper S10 imprinting system (both from Eastman Kodak Company); Prinect Inspection Control (Heidelberg USA); and SUPER BLUE 3 (Printing Research, Inc). The technologies receiving this prestigious award have been judged as truly innovative and expected to have a major impact on the graphic communications industry. The independent panel of judges deliberated over technology nominations ranging from software solutions to press consumables and printing systems. Great strides in technology were demonstrated in inkjet, web-to-print, plate processing, and flexographic and offset print quality. Inaugurated in 1978 as a way to honour the development of technologies predicted to have a major impact in the graphic arts and relatedindustries, the InterTech Technology Awards have become a solid indicator of significant trends in graphic arts technology; over eighty percent of technologies that receive an award experience continued commercial success in the marketplace.

Kodak was the only multiple winner, earning two of the six prizes awarded this year. Over the years, Kodak has received a total of 26 InterTech Technology Awards for innovative solutions for commercial, data, publishing and packaging printers. Receiving the 2010 InterTech Technology Awards are the Kodak Prosper S10 imprinting system and DigiCap NX screening. The Prosper S10 imprinting system is a monochrome continuous inkjet solution offering an unprecedented combination of image quality and high productivity with consistent reliability and low total cost of operation, enabling the creation of more effective, personalized communications materials. On the other hand, DigiCap NX screening significantly improves ink transfer efficiency during flexographic printing, especially when printing on films. It allows flexographic printing to truly compete on a quality level with gravure printing for flexible packaging, producing higher print densities, smoother solid area ink coverage and expanded colour gamut with process printing.

Another award winner Heidelberg’s Prinect Inspection Control inline print defect detection system was developed primarily to address the need in pharmaceutical, specialty, and package printing to detect and correct printing defects prior to distribution. It is the industry’s first, internally integrated, in-line defect detection system designed to locate printing and material defects (hickeys, marking, scumming, scratching, etc) in real time and at the full rated speed of the press on each and every printed sheet as it passes through the coating unit of the press by comparing every printed sheet to a digital reference. Upon detection, the system provides audible and visual alerts and inserts a tab in the delivery pile to indicate the first occurrence of the defect(s). If the defect clears itself, then an additional tab is inserted into the delivery pile to mark the last defective sheet and accurately define the range of defective printed materials. Equally impressive is the fact that the intuitive user interface for Prinect Inspection control is operated through the Wallscreen of the Prinect Press Center, a 2009 InterTech Technology Award recipient.

In the past four years, Heidelberg has earned the coveted Printing Industries of America InterTech Technology Award for six innovative, game-changing technologies. This award marks the fourth year in a row in which Heidelberg has been recognized for technologies including the Prinect Press Center with Wallscreen and Intellistart (2009), Prinect Inpress Control (2008) and Speedmaster XL 105 (2007), all of which have since proven their staying power in the marketplace as integral features of Heidelberg’s Speedmaster press platform. Since 1978, the year InterTech Technology Award was introduced, Heidelberg has accumulated 30 InterTech Technology awards representing the company’s record of innovation across the print media landscape. From prepress and workflow to the pressroom and bindery, Heidelberg’s technology leadership is further validated by its worldwide installed base and underscored by loyal customers.

Fujifilm’s ZAC automated controller technology module offers a revolutionary intelligent processor design which monitors conductivity and precisely controls activity, resulting in increased chemistry life, decreased effluent and reduced costs. The InterTech judges credited Fujifilm’s ZAC technology for its control over plate processing which results in more consistent plates, less money spent on chemicals, as well as reduced chemical waste without requiring a change in workflow. This is the second year in a row that Fujifilm’s Graphic Systems Division has been honoured with an InterTech Technology Award. Last year, the company’s Taskero Universe ColorPath Verified solution, a system and method for remotely monitoring, maintaining and servicing every facet of the colour production process, was a recipient.