Kodak Expanding Plate Production Facility

Kodak broke ground on Friday, February 29, on an expansion of its plate production facility in Columbus, Ga. Adding 16,000 square feet to the existing facility, the company’s third plate production line will meet the digital plate supply needs of print service providers in a wide variety of markets.

Kodak’s investment in the new production line totals approximately $15 million and will enable it to more efficiently produce current and future generation digital plates.

First opened in 1990 by Sun Chemical for the production of Polychrome branded printing plates, the facility has undergone several previous improvements to increase production quality and capacity. Kodak entered into a joint venture with Sun Chemical in 1998 to form Kodak Polychrome Graphics, and in 2005 Kodak Polychrome Graphics became a wholly owned subsidiary of Kodak. The facility currently produces a broad portfolio of conventional and digital plates.

Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2009, and production on the new line will begin immediately.