Eastman Kodak Company’s Graphic Communications Group has announced a swathe of successes at drupa 2004, including major customer contracts and multi-million dollar orders. Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group consists of Encad, a maker of large-format inkjet printers; Kodak Versamark, manufacturer of continuous inkjet printing solutions; and NexPress Solutions, a leader in digital colour and black and white printing solutions. In addition, the Graphic Communications Group manages Kodak’s interest in Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG), a 50-50 joint venture with Sun Chemical.
James Langley, Eastman Kodak Company senior vice president, and president of the Graphic Communications Group, says, "drupa provided us the opportunity to meet with many customers and prospects, and the feedback we received has been very positive," said. "The visitors to our booths were delighted by the products they saw demonstrated and confirmed their confidence in Kodak. We had a very successful drupa, are pleased with the progress we have made in a very short time, and look forward to building upon our current momentum."
The Graphic Communications Group’s successes at drupa include:
- The completion of its first integrated sale to a customer, combining products from NexPress Solutions, Kodak Versamark, and Encad, along with products from KPG. The North American-based commercial printing customer purchased Digimaster E150s, NexPress 2100s, Kodak Versamark VJ1000 black and white printing systems; and Encad NovaJet 1000i large-format printers, as well as computer-to-plate units from KPG
- Kodak Versamark closed a multi-million dollar order from ISETO Corporation, one of its largest Japanese distributors, for the sale of more than a dozen Kodak Versamark VX-Series Printing Systems. This represents the largest single order in Versamark’s history
- The Kodak Versamark VX5000e was hailed as one of the major innovations of the show;
- NexPress Solutions, which Kodak acquired on May 1, sold more than 100 digital colour and monochrome printing systems at drupa driven by new offerings, including the new Digimaster E150 and NexPress Intelligloss solution for the NexPress 2100 press;
- Encad’s new NovaJet 1000i large-format inkjet printer continued to receive favourable reviews from partners, customers and prospects, with hundreds of new qualified leads
Langley says, "These highlights demonstrate that we have an attractive product portfolio that meets customers’ needs. At drupa, we stressed that we would present one face to the customer; our first integrated sale delivers on that commitment and demonstrates how quickly we are moving."
