What does it do?
It is a web-fed CMYK perfecting inkjet press, intended to deliver “offset quality” print on a wide variety of standard papers, including high coverage on glossy coatings, without slowing from the speed of 152m/minute. It uses Kodak’s UltraStream technology, a higher speed/quality development of its continuous-flow inkjet system that was first used by Uteco with its Sapphire Evo W flexible packaging press.

When was it launched and what markets is it aimed at?
Although originally intended to be at the postponed Drupa 2020, the Hunkeler Innovationdays event in March 2023 marked the effective official launch. It was demonstrated printing three “magalogues” (combined magazines and catalogues) in roll-to-roll configuration with a Hunkeler UW8 unwinder and RW8 rewinder along with the Hunkeler WI8 web inspection system.

Denisse Goldbarg, Kodak’s chief marketing officer and head of EAMER sales, says it is aimed at “the mid-volume market segment and printers that would have production volumes around 10 million A4 images per month”. She adds: “Delivering offset quality, 200lpi, at a speed of 152m/minute or 12,950 perfected B2 sheets per hour, the press is perfect for shifting jobs from offset to digital.”

These jobs can include static as well as variable data work. According to Kodak, typical applications include direct mail, catalogues, magazines, inserts, photobooks and postcards. The duty cycle is up to 60 million pages per month.

There is a choice of two configurations: Prosper Ultra P520 is aimed at publishing, transpromo and commercial print applications with low to moderate ink coverage. Ultra C520 is for highly customised direct mail, inserts, magazines, catalogues, promotional brochures and colour books – especially those with high ink coverage on coated papers.

The Prosper Ultra 520 is one of three Prosper inkjet web presses currently offered. The older Prosper 6000 (300m/min) and latest 7000 Turbo (410m/min) don’t have the new UltraStream heads. They are intended for high-volume work and have to slow down for higher quality. The new press has about half the footprint of the earlier models.

How does it work?
Prosper Ultra 520 marks Kodak’s first use of its UltraStream heads, with resolution of “200lpi equivalent” and a drop size of 3.75picoliters. The earlier Stream heads of the Prosper 5000, 6000 and now 7000 Turbo use air to deflect the droplet streams, while UltraStream uses charged metal plates (similar to the earlier Kodak Versamark models).

The inks are water-based, and are said to have “the smallest and most uniform nanoparticulate pigment distribution with low humectant levels, offering an exceptionally large colour gamut, optimum drying efficiency, and increased sustainability”. This is said to be a “95% larger gamut than SWOP”.

The print speed is the same on all compatible papers, even glossy coateds with high ink coverage, which has been a weak point for previous inkjet webs. Kodak says that papers can be either pre-treated for inkjet, or standard offset papers can be used by applying Kodak’s Image Optimizer Agent (a primer) on the press. Some standard offset papers can be printed without primer “with almost no impairment of image quality”, says Kodak, though inkjet treated papers give “higher quality and a larger gamut, with less bleed and show-through”.

Mechanically, the Prosper Ultra 520 is a roll-fed press for web widths up to 533mm and print widths of 520mm, with essentially unlimited page cut-off (3.8m). It has open architecture and can be configured with third-party ancillaries. A typical configuration might start with an unwinder or an auto-splicer, pre-coater, then the press, then a post-coater, perforation/punch unit, a rewinder or an inline sheeter or book finishing unit.

The main difference between the P520 (medium/low ink coverage) and C520 (high ink coverage) is in the drying units. P520 has two near-infrared drying units per side of the web while C520 has four each side to handle the heavier ink coverage. A P520 can be field upgraded to a C520.

The Kodak 900 Print Manager (data and press controller with Adobe APPE 5 Rip) can integrate to Kodak’s Prinergy front-end workflow platform. It supports variable data as standard from all common file formats including PDF, PDF/VT and AFP – Kodak claims it is the fastest on the market with integral VDP.

What’s the USP?
“The Prosper Ultra 520 closes the gap with offset,” says Goldbarg. “Printers can move 42% more pages from offset to digital than competitive presses due to high productivity and economical running costs.”

The new ink’s very wide gamut should please advertisers that want to match tricky brand colours more accurately. The UltraStream continuous-flow tech is also said to be more reliable than piezo heads, by eliminating jet outs and nozzle clogging, saving time on cleaning routines.

Also important is the Kodak Intelligent Print System, which constantly monitors and optimises stitching, colour-to-colour and front-to-back registration.

Compared to competitors (listed above in Alternatives), Goldbarg says the Ultra 520 does not slow down to achieve high quality, while its near-infrared drying is more efficient and effective due to short dwell times.

What training and service support is offered?
“Like any Prosper Press, the Ultra 520 is easier to learn and operate than a typical offset press and requires less labour per shift,” says Goldbarg.

Kodak offers direct support of the press with services including workflow process redesign, pre-installation project planning, sales training, operator training and ongoing operator coaching.

What does it cost?
Like most inkjet web presses, there are no click charges for the Ultra 520. Kodak wouldn’t be drawn on pricing for the Ultra 520, other than to say it was “competitively priced”.

When will installations start?
The first will go in by mid-year, Kodak expects.

SPECIFICATIONS
Process Kodak UltraStream continuous-flow inkjet
Ink Water-based nanopigment
Colours CMYK plus primer, 4/4
Perfecting modes 4/4, 4/1, 4/0, 1/1, 1/0
Resolution 200lpi equivalent
Screening Kodak error diffusion or threshold matrix
Max speed 152m/minute
Sheets per hour 12,950 B2, 4/4
Max web width 533mm
Max print width 520mm
Max page length 3.8m
Substrates Inkjet pre-coated or on-press coated papers
Weight range 45-270gsm (C520); 45-160gsm (P520 - may print heavier weights at reduced speed)
Drying Intelligent near-infrared: two units in Ultra P520, four units in C520
Footprint 14.9x7.3m, includes press, unwind, rewind, DFE, fluid systems, ink tanks, and optional pre- or post-coater
Price On application
Contact Kodak 0845 602 5991 www.kodak.com

ALTERNATIVES

Canon ProStream 1800
Canon’s ProStream 1000 series of inkjet web presses are developments of the former Océ range. The 1800 is a faster 133m/min version of the original 80m/min 1000 model, which is still available. As with most current inkjet webs, both can handle offset coated gloss, silk, matt and uncoated papers, plus inkjet
optimised grades. Canon’s ColorGrip primer is used for some substrates.
Process DigiDot piezo inkjet with variable drop size
Ink Water-based
Colours CMYK
Max print width 556mm
Resolution 1,200x1,200dpi
Paper weights 40-300gsm
Throughput 133m/min
Contact Canon UK 0844 892 0810 www.canon.co.uk

HP PageWide Advantage 2200
A compact single-engine duplex CMYK inkjet web press for 521mm print. Speed is up to 152m/minute in colour or up to 244m/minute in black only. The heads are dual drop weight for greater tonal range and the water-based extended-gamut inks are suited to coated paper, plus uncoated, treated and HP-specified ColorPRO paper. Quality is said to be “offset class”.
Process Web-fed thermal inkjet
Ink HP Brilliant water-based
Colours Extended gamut CMYK
Web width 203-558mm
Max print width 521mm
Paper weights 40-300gsm
Max speeds 244m/min (mono performance), 152m/min (performance mode or performance mode HDK), 101m/min (quality mode)
Nozzle spacing 2,400dpi
Contact HP 0800 408 4348 www.hp.com

Ricoh Pro VC70000e
Pro VC70000e is a 2022 update/field upgrade to the original 2018 flagship Pro VC70000 twin-engine duplex inkjet web press, which is still available. They are intended for high-quality applications such as catalogues, replacing offset on similar papers, as well as books, direct marketing and so on. The top speed of 150m/min matches Kodak’s, but at a resolution of 600x600dpi (though greyscale dots boost the tonal range). Higher resolutions up to 1,200x1,200dpi are possible, but the speed progressively drops to 50m/min. Layout can be two inline units or an L-configuration.
Process Piezo inkjet with 2-bit variable drops
Ink Water-based
Colours CMYK
Max web width 520.7mm
Max print width 508mm
Paper weights 40-250gsm
Max throughput 150m/min at up to 157gsm (600x600dpi), 120m/min over 157gsm (600x600dpi), 75/100m/min (1,200x600dpi); 50m/min (1,200x1,200dpi)
Driers Radiant heat drum dryer plus heat rollers and air circulation
Contact Ricoh 01784 416 900 www.ricoh.co.uk

Screen Truepress Jet520HD+SC
An inkjet web press originally announced in 2014, but given a boost with the introduction of new SC inks in 2017, which work with offset papers with no need for pre-coating or optimiser priming. There is a mono-only option.
Process Piezo inkjet with variable drop size
Ink Water-based Truepress SC
Web widths 165-520mm
Max print width 508mm
Resolution 1,200x1,200dpi
Paper weights 40-250gsm
Throughput 150m/min (up to 157gsm paper)
Driers Large- and small-diameter heated rollers plus constant-temperature dryer
Front end Screen Equios (standard), IPDS/AFP controller optional
Price £1.5m-£1.9m
Contact Screen Europe +31 20 456 7800 www.screeneurope.com