Capable of more than 2,000 four-colour A4 pages per minute, the press will produce direct marketing on the fly with bills and statements.

The addition of colour on the second side of the web offers DSTi Output's customers the opportunity to highlight elements of their terms and conditions as well as use both sides of the page for marketing messages.

The installation forms part of chief executive Tim Delahay's plans to lead the revolution in integrating personalised direct mail with transactional print.

Although other firms have installed 4/4 Versamark machines this was the first in the world in what Kodak terms a 4/4w version, which offers full colour on both sides of the web in a wide (w) two-up duplex configuration.

It joins two 4/1 Versamark ordered by the firm at Ipex 2002.
Kodak and DSTi worked closely to co-develop this version of the Versamark VX5000, which is the current state of the art in high-speed ink-jet presses.

DSTi developed the perforating, folding and bi-winder used by the machine, which has a web speed of 150m per minute.

Kodak Versamark vice president of marketing Ron Gilboa said that DSTi was at the forefront of a move to mass market personalised colour.

"We produce colour that enables them to attack the mass market," he added.

DSTi Output shot to prominence earlier this year announcing plans to build a new factory after the award of contracts for its HiOutput product, which eliminates pre-printed stock and offers full-colour personalisation.

Story by Barney Cox