Inkjet & Digital Printing
CN Newsprint Leverages the New KODAK PROSPER S10 Imprinting System for Newspaper Applications
Tuesday 27. April 2010 - UK newspaper group sees potential in regional content and promotional opportunities
CN Newsprint is the first Kodak customer worldwide to put the new KODAK PROSPER S10 Imprinting System to use in a newspaper production environment. The Carlisle, UK-based company is exploring the commercial opportunities of using Kodak’s breakthrough Stream Inkjet Technology, which delivers variable data, 600 dpi high-speed offset class output inline with an offset press.
CN Newsprint is the print division of the CN Group, Cumbria’s leading information provider. The family-run business has three divisions-publishing, print and radio-and a diverse portfolio of 43 websites and multimedia channels that cover a wide area, including Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway; Tynedale; Lancashire; the Midlands; and Northern Ireland. CN Newsprint’s print production includes tabloid and broadsheet newspapers, quarter-fold magazines, newsletters, supplements, inserts for leading supermarkets and local authorities, and political promotions. Using varying paper weights, from standard newsprint of 42.5 gsm to high white 70 gsm paper, the company produces more than 25 million newspapers per year.
“We’re integrating the KODAK PROSPER S10 Imprinting System with our newspaper press and we’re very excited about the potential of this innovative technology. We can already see the high-quality match with the newsprint,” said Guy Forrester, General Manager at the group’s print division. “We’re assessing the concept, the quality and the speeds of the S10 and we are already enjoying litho-class content on images and graphics, as well as text.
“At present, we’re printing 60,000 newspapers per hour-if we can maintain these speeds and print variable data inline, it will be a huge boost to our business.” Adopting Kodak’s Stream Inkjet Technology for newspaper applications will bring a host of new business opportunities to CN Newsprint. The company is testing specialty applications-such as retail marketing, vouchers, interactive games and lotteries-and discussing them with its broad customer base.
“We print a lot of inserts and supplements for leading supermarkets, such as Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys,” noted Forrester. “We’re looking at how we can use the KODAK PROSPER S10 Imprinting System to customize the inserts by geography, with unique vouchers and interactive games.
“Another option is barcoding for inclusion in retail promotions. With the S10’s variable data capabilities, we can print unique barcodes that can be redeemed at a supermarket checkout. These are huge commercial opportunities for CN Newsprint-and we believe a first in the newspaper sector.”
CN Newsprint won Weekly Newspaper of the Year in 2009 with its publication The Cumberland News. Forrester concluded, “Achievements like this enable us to move forward with confidence. We have maintained our company standards and reputation by looking after our customers’ futures. A part of this means researching and testing the latest products on the market. There is real sense of anticipation at CN Newsprint as we evaluate KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology. We have high hopes for the PROSPER S10 Imprinting System and believe it will have a key role to play in CN Newsprint’s growth.”
A monochrome continuous inkjet solution for inline digital printing on high-speed web devices, the PROSPER S10 Imprinting System delivers offset class, variable data printing with savings of up to 50 percent on production costs-and integrates seamlessly with web offset presses and web finishing equipment. Operating at 1,000 fpm (305 mpm) with a resolution of 600 dpi, a print width of 10.56 centimeters (4.16 inches) and pigment-based inks that offer fade, scratch and water resistance, the PROSPER S10 Imprinting System increases throughput and eliminates the need for additional standalone print devices.