Drupa Foretells Digital Future

Kodak delivered on its promise to show the Stream Concept Printhead and Concept Press, based on continuous ink-jet technology, but didn’t reveal much more about the product specs or commercialization plans. It was reportedly able to produce more than 500 fpm.

There were a couple of surprises on the ink-jet front in the form of sheetfed machines from Dainippon Screen and Fujifilm capable of printing on coated stocks. Both companies restricted viewing of these machines and said the product names were provisional, which raised some doubt about when and in what final form these technologies will be commercialized. To be fair, HP and Kodak also had their web-fed ink-jet presses behind stanchions, and Kodak at times would lower a set of curtains that completely blocked its Stream Concept Press from view.