The Trillian SP – a thermal plate that is claimed to offer robustness on press for long runs and aggressive inks such as UV- and EB-cured inks without baking – will be launched at the Birmingham show in May.

Oscar Planas, Kodak vice-president of marketing for pre-press solutions, said: "We understand the need for no-process, this is not in lieu of a processless plate, but this is a global plate."

The company claimed that the Trillian SP is the first product to come from one of its new technologies, and announced that further "breakthrough solutions" will be launched throughout the year.

The plate is claimed to cut chemistry consumption by 70% and to reduce the energy used in plate processing.

"It's a pressman's plate, suitable for all applications, especially long-run lengths with excellent roll-ups, restarts, and ink and water balance," Planas said.

In addition to the Trillian SP launch, Kodak has also bolstered its range of flexo plates with the unveiling of its first laser-engraved in-the-round material Flexcel Direct.

According to Kodak, Flexcel Direct offers quicker pre-press, although for companies seeking quality and robustness it still recommends its Flexcel NX – a thermal film that is laminated to a photopolymer plate for standard front and back exposure and solvent processing.

Kodak has also launched Intelligent Prepress Manager – a business intelligence tool for plate processing that records the parameters for the each job, including plate, platesetter and processor condition, to ensure optimal plate production.