Eastman Kodak Co.

Leonard Christopher, In-Plant Segment Manager with Eastman Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, offers his observations and advice for the in-plant industry: “Our customers tell us that they continue to face the challenge of being outsourced by their enterprise in an effort to reduce operational costs. If they aren’t being outsourced, they’re seeing reduced operational budgets year-over-year and are challenged to do more with less and continually prove their value over external print providers.” “At the same time, these shops are increasingly working with internal clients on targeted marketing programs using variable data printing. By keeping volumes in-house, in-plants are able to help meet or improve upon

Kodak is promoting its unified workflow solution with a series of Unified Workflow Roadshows. They will take place in the following cities: • Dallas, Mon., Sept. 25 • Irvine, Calif, Sept. 27 • Toronto, Oct. 5. Kodak Unified Workflow solutions provide an end-to-end digital infrastructure for printing that integrates business, production, color and data workflows, using software tools, open standards and intelligent automation. A Unified Workflow enables printers to streamline processes for efficiency, optimize resources and maximize production capabilities. The roadshows will cover Kodak’s vision for a unified workflow and the business value of establishing a unified workflow. Other focuses include color management and proofing, customized direct mail

IN-PLANTS DEPEND heavily upon the skills of a few key individuals to remain productive: production managers, bindery operators, prepress technicians, computer systems managers, or any number of other specialized personnel that are a part of the print production workflow. When one or more of these people are absent, the whole workflow may suffer. Many in-plants are turning to workflow systems to help mitigate this problem. Workflow systems help to standardize how we process jobs. When we rely on key individuals, we are depending on them to remember what they did last time to solve a problem, or how to most efficiently move a job

THE COLLEGE and University Print Management Association of Canada (CUPMAC) scored something of a coup this year. It succeeded in convincing popular industry speaker Frank Romano, professor emeritus at Rochester Institute of Technology, to address the group’s 39th annual conference, way up in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the most eastern point in North America (unless you count Greenland). Actually, Romano did more than just “address” the 39 managers in attendance. He captivated and amused them as well, while leading four sessions over the conference’s three-day span. And when he wasn’t at the front of the room, he watched the other presenters (among them a

FOR THE second year in a row I spent a few days with Canadian in-plant managers recently at the College and University Print Management Association of Canada (CUPMAC) conference. It took place this year in St. John’s, Newfoundland, which sits on an island so far east you can almost touch Europe. Even the local accents have a strong dose of Irish in them. The cliffs, the colorful wooden houses, the view of the harbor from atop Signal Hill, all left me with pleasant memories, as did the rare string of sunny days that accompanied the conference. Memorial University of Newfoundland hosted CUPMAC, which is similar

Kodak Care Kits Eliminate Boxes, Streamline Offerings, Make Process Easier ROCHESTER, NY—August 28—Kodak Service & Support, Eastman Kodak Company’s worldwide service organization, is making it even easier for resellers to offer businesses the protection they need for their document imaging scanner investments.   An adapted pricing structure — the result of a new simplified service portfolio — and a “virtual” shift are among enhanced features for Kodak Care Kits, which offer savings up to 44 percent and upgraded service on some multi-year coverage for distributed capture scanners. Kodak Care Kits are available as extended warranties, and post-warranty agreements for more than 40

As the silver-halide film business continues to shrink in the wake of digital photography, Eastman Kodak Co. has posted its seventh quarterly loss in a row and plans to eliminate 2,000 jobs by the end of next year, according to the Associated Press. This is in addition to the 22,000 to 25,000 jobs already targeted since January 2004. Kodak lost $282 million between April and June, mostly due to $214 million in restructuring costs related to its “digital transformation.” A Kodak press release says the loss was “essentially in line with the company’s expectations.” Antonio Perez, chief executive officer, anticipates that the majority of the

Kodak is celebrating the 10th anniversary of thermal computer-to-plate technology, which was invented by Kodak employees Dr. Neil Haley and Dan Gelbart. Kodak announced the first thermal CTP system at Drupa 1995, consisting of the KODAK DIRECT IMAGE Thermal Plate and the former CREO Thermal 3244 Platesetter. Beta tests for thermal CTP began in late 1995, and the system was fully commercialized by the middle of 1996. “Thermal CTP is one of the great imaging innovations in Kodak history and a primary building block of our graphic communications business today,” says Jeff Hayzlett, Chief Marketing Officer, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group. “Thermal CTP delivers tremendous value

FOR THE first time since its initial meeting in 1964, the Association of College and University Printers (ACUP) returned to Massachusetts recently for its annual conference. And despite some stiff conference competition—ACUP kicked off just days after the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association conference wrapped up in Las Vegas—ACUP 2006 was a smashing success, drawing 130 managers from around the world. A number of first-time attendees from the New England area joined conference regulars from as far away as Alaska, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. A large contingent from California was also on hand, building enthusiasm for ACUP 2007 in San Francisco—not

IT MAY not be a new topic, but on-demand printing can still pack a room—or a trade show floor, as was the case at the recent AIIM On Demand Conference and Exposition. More than 20,000 visitors from 50 states and 62 countries traveled to Philadelphia in May for the annual event. Waiting to greet them were some 450 exhibitors, all displaying their latest wares. Despite the show’s successful two-year run in Philadelphia, though, the city will not be hosting next year’s event (and no, the annoying cab strike on the first day had nothing to do with it). Questex Media Group, the