KODAK PROSPER Plus Imprinting Systems offer packaging printers digital flexibility and adaptability in an ever-changing marketplace

The demand for faster time-to-market drives the spread of digital printing in packaging applications because the long lead times and upfront costs of platemaking or preparation of cylinders for analog printing processes are eliminated. Brand owners are constantly looking for solutions to support more frequent design changes and cost-efficient short-run production, therefore needing greater flexibility. Brands are also looking for personalization and versioning of packaging to foster consumer engagement and drive business success, such as code-based sweepstakes or connected, smart packaging applications. These attributes contribute to packaging printers’ return on investment by creating new opportunities, increase revenues, and highlighting competitive advantage.

Given these usage options and application benefits, it is no surprise that digital packaging printing is predicted to grow at an average annual rate of over 5% globally from 2023 to 2033.

Digital Imprinting for Impressive Packaging
In addition to fully digital packaging presses or specially designed hybrid presses, there is another option for making packaging printing digital: the integration of digital imprinting systems that can match quality and printing speeds onto existing conventional equipment. This allows for a solution that is 100% tailored to a packaging converter’s needs and breathes new life into their existing equipment without having to make a huge financial investment.

An outstanding example of this is track and trace applications that utilize serialized QR or 2D codes for product and brand protection, as well as support anti-counterfeiting measures, such as those provided by KODAK PROSPER Plus Imprinting Systems. Kodak’s PROSPER Imprinting System portfolio features high image quality and high-speed solutions. The systems use KODAK Stream Continuous Inkjet Technology, which enables high speed and high ink coverage on glossy substrates thanks to precise, round drop placement.

KODAK PROSPER Plus Imprinting Systems were designed for integration into flexo, gravure and offset packaging presses and packaging converting machines such as folder gluers. The versatile imprinting solutions are suitable for corrugated, folding carton, label and flexible packaging applications. With their fast speeds of up to 600 mpm, PROSPER Plus Systems rule out any impairment to analog packaging production equipment productivity as a result of the digital component.

PROSPER Plus Systems offer speeds of up to 600 mpm (2,000 fpm) and produce image quality that is difficult to distinguish from traditional printing. The print width of the base configuration is 105 mm; CMYK color printing is enabled by cascading four of these inkjet modules. The systems are available in different speed and width versions, allowing the converter to customize the solution to fit their business needs.

Going Wider: Built-In Flexibility
PROSPER printheads can be configured up to 12 across, creating a customized solution to fit the needs of a large variety of applications. With exceptional scalability, packaging printers can start small, then add additional imprinting heads with a field upgrade.

Depending on the configuration, systems can include up to 12 print stations and 24 printheads and can be easily integrated into existing equipment using Kodak or third-party solutions. Printers can start with monochrome printing and later add spot and process colors as their business needs evolve.

The new KODAK PROSPER Print Bar takes inkjet printing with PROSPER Imprinting Systems to another level. It enables seamless and accurate digital printing with scalable print widths in 105 mm increments using multiple PROSPER printheads. The powerful integration solution offers enhanced automatic color registration, cutting down on waste and reprints. In addition, the innovative Smart Stitch functionality helps ensure consistently high print quality with seamless wide-format output. For maximum flexibility, the PROSPER Print Bar is available in pre-configured monochrome and CMYK options as well as custom configurations to accommodate a variety of applications.

The Significant Role of Inks & Primers
PROSPER Plus Imprinting Systems employ water-based pigment and dye-based KODAK EKTACOLOR Inks developed and manufactured by Kodak, which dry fast owing to their chemical composition. A key advantage of the inks lies in Kodak’s proprietary pigment micro-milling process which creates extremely fine nanoparticulate pigments with a very narrow size distribution. The finer pigments make the ink easier to jet, reduce light scatter to achieve richer and purer colors, and deliver a superior color gamut as well as ultra-thin dried ink layers.

In addition, Kodak’s inkjet inks differ from competitive inks by having a lower level of humectants. This results in faster drying, even when printing with high ink coverage on difficult substrates. All of these benefits of EKTACOLOR Inks enable PROSPER Plus Systems to print vivid images with vibrant colors and reliably render the offset color gamut. Packaging printers also benefit from the fact that Kodak offers not only CMYK process color EKTACOLOR Inks but also customized spot color inks. This means, PROSPER Plus Imprinting Systems users can accurately reproduce brand colors and more easily meet the color expectations of brand owners.