Prepress
Kodak Introduces Adaptive Picture Exchange, an Innovative, Modular Dry-Lab System, Built from the Ground Up
Friday 01. February 2008 - System Combines New Solutions with Proven Technologies to Offer Retailers Unprecedented Adaptability, Ease-of-Use, Flexibility and Scalability in Offering High Value Photo Items
At the Photo Marketing Association Show (PMA), Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) introduced the new KODAK Adaptive Picture Exchange (APEX), its powerful new modular, behind-the-counter thermal dry-lab system that combines a number of new products into one powerful, integrated and industry-leading retailer solution. The APEX system marries multiple innovations with Kodaks market-proven applications – a combination that provides retailers with unprecedented adaptability, ease-of-use, flexibility and scalability to quickly and easily produce profitable, high quality photo products, while dramatically reducing retailer costs and complexity.
“Retailers need solutions that provide dramatic profitability improvements while minimizing capital expenditure and risk in order to position themselves today and for the future,” said Nicki Zongrone, general manager of Kodaks Retail Systems Solutions Group and vice president, Eastman Kodak Company. “Only the APEX system combines powerful new innovations with the proven technologies in more than 90,000 kiosks around the globe today, letting retailers take advantage of the investments theyve already made. The new system is likely the most advanced lab solution ever launched in photo retailing, with a host of signature features including adaptability, profitability, simplicity and efficiency in an eco-friendly design that leverages proven, winning Kodak retail printing solutions right out of the box.”
The total solution allows retailers to offer a wide selection of exciting, profitable products while also substantially reducing costs. Through greater ease of operation and flexibility, the new system reduces setup and training time and increases employee productivity. Additional efficiencies and retailer profit opportunity come from the combination of new simple user interface design, substantially reduced number of media types, and the connectable and modular small footprint core design and low capital cost.
New components within APEX include the KODAK 7000 Photo Printer, KODAK XtraLife II thermal media, KODAK DL2100 Duplex Printer, new APEX workstation with advanced high-speed processing and APEX software, and a highly ergonomic and easy to use overall design. The adaptive system allows retailers to scale from low to high volume environments, as business needed expand.
KODAK 7000 Photo Printer and KODAK XtraLife II Media: The new KODAK 7000 Photo Printer combines Kodaks experience and the proven reliability in thermal printing with new retailer friendly features that provide more flexibility and profit opportunity than ever before. Using the new KODAK XtraLife II thermal media, this high capacity/high reliability printer can create two finishes – satin and gloss – from only one media sku, making APEX the worlds first retail system to enable this capability, which simplifies and streamlines retailer operations, while offering consumers more choice. The system continues the simplification by allowing retailers to create 4×6, 6×8 and bordered 5×7 from the same high capacity media sku. In addition, the printer and media combination enables Kodaks new Clear Caption technology, which allows retailers to print metadata inconspicuously right on the front of the image.
KODAK DL2100 Duplex Printer: The new KODAK DL2100 Duplex Printer enables retailers to quickly and easily create Kodak-quality double-sided photobooks, calendars and greeting cards in a very small footprint device. The printer uses new LED based electro-photographic technology that ensures the highest quality at high speeds with higher reliability than laser solutions due to substantially reduced moving parts. Only the KODAK DL2100 Duplex Printer delivers the combination of Kodak quality, high-speed performance, reliability and low price to the retail printing industry.
New APEX Workstation: At the heart of the system, the new APEX workstation integrates a high-speed dual-core processor and powerful new APEX workflow management software with a new user interface in order to ensure rapid processing and ultimate ease-of-use. Retailers can connect to up to 13 Kodak G3, G4 of G4x order stations and direct rendering-intensive tasks to the APEX workstation for faster processing, providing improved consumer satisfaction, minimized lines and therefore improved profit potential. Retailers can also connect to their own websites or to external service and product providers. With the system, retailers can to accept, manage and produce premium product orders. These products include the KODAK Picture Movie DVD, the only solution of its kind made right in the store in minutes with original artist music, as well as posters and single-sided or duplex photo books, calendars, collages and greeting cards using the best printing technology for each application.
State of the Art Functional Design: Kodaks APEX system leverages new scalable and modular cabinetry designs in order to ensure maximum efficiency in retailer environments while bringing the form and function of the photofinishing department into the 21st century. The new cabinets, when combined with the new equipment, allow for a small footprint while enabling maximum $ per square footage for retailers.
These new products and services combine with and complement any existing Kodak retail solutions to help retailers maximize revenue opportunities with both current and future offerings.