Kodak showcases innovative and flexible solutions to help retailers

LAS VEGAS, USA:  At the Photo Marketing Association Show (PMA), Eastman Kodak Company has emphasized its commitment to the success of its retail partners by expanding its portfolio of proven, modular and adaptive solutions. At the core of these solutions is the new KODAK Adaptive Picture Exchange/APEX, the company’s new, behind-the-counter thermal dry lab solution.

The APEX system provides retailers with unprecedented ease-of-use, flexibility and scalability, enabling them to produce profitable, high-quality photo products while minimizing cost and complexity. APEX is the world’s first retail system to combine ribbon optimization and dual finish features to cost effectively allow a broad range of print sizes and finishes from a single media SKU. The system’s flexibility makes it perfect for retailers of any size, and allows them to leverage existing assets and expand into new technologies as business needs dictate.

“Consumers are looking for more ways to enjoy their stories. This challenges retailers to make smart, flexible technology investments that will enable them to meet those needs, today and in the future,” said Brad Kruchten, general manager of Kodak’s Retail Printing Group and vice president, Eastman Kodak Company. “APEX is just one example of how Kodak offers retailers adaptable solutions that let them take advantage of the current equipment investments, while setting the foundation for future expansion.”

ALL NEW ADAPTIVE PICTURE EXCHANGE

APEX, available early Q2, 2008, is a totally new design in dry lab systems, designed to meet the evolving needs of retailers of any size in any channel. Retailers can connect current KODAK Order Stations (up to 13) to APEX to fulfill consumers’ standard print orders, and can also tap the system’s ability to accept, manage and produce premium product orders like posters, single- and double-sided photo books, calendars, collages, greeting cards, and KODAK Picture Movie DVD, the only solution of its kind made right in the store.

COMPLEMENT TO BROADER KODAK PORTFOLIO

APEX represents one of the many ways Kodak provides solutions that balance retailers’ desire to provide their customers with a wide array of popular and profitable photo products while also working within their budget and space limitations. Other products and services introduced by Kodak at PMA include:

• New KODAK DL2100 Duplex Printer: This new onsite electro-photographic printer, optimized for use with the new APEX system, KODAK Picture Kiosk G4s and future kiosk models, creates 2-sided calendars, photo books and greeting cards and can provide retailer payback in less than a year. The printer handles card stocks and paper, up to 8-1/2 x 11 inch (and A4), folded 5x7 inch greeting cards and is capable of printing up to 13 duplex pages per minute in full color with exceptionally high quality levels. 
• KODAK Rapid Print Scanner: The new Rapid Print Scanner allows consumers to quickly and easily scan and archive their old photographs, right from the KODAK Picture Kiosk. The scanner can handle photographs ranging from wallet-size up to 8x12 and scan up to 30, 4x6 images per minute. Once the images are scanned, consumers can choose to put them on a KODAK Shoebox CD for archiving or immediately create photo specialty items, such as KODAK Picture Movie DVD, photo books, collages and calendars. By offering this service, retailers introduce consumers to new, exciting ways for them to use their old photographs to tell their stories.
• New KODAK Picture Kiosk G4X Order Station: Kodak’s new Picture Kiosk G4X enables retailers to better leverage innovative new offerings from Kodak through a faster, powerful integrated combination of dual core processor and additional RAM & hard disk memory. This high-performance kiosk will reduce wait time and increase consumer satisfaction with its rapid image loading and overall speed from start-to-finish. With the KODAK Picture Kiosk G4X and accessory DVD burner, consumers can create a Picture Movie DVD in as little as 5 minutes – making it the industry’s only true instant solution that brings life to digital images easily and with original artist music.
• KODAK ROYAL Luminous Digital Paper: Kodak’s new consumer paper provides a high gloss, iridescent surface, and offers retailers a way to differentiate their photographic offerings. The paper, compatible with shorter processing cycles, is optimized for digital and optical printing, and creates stunning photographs with bold, bright colors. The paper combines a heavier weight with a distinctive gold back-print to give it a premium feel.
• New Qualex Products and Services: Qualex Inc., Kodak’s wholesale photofinishing subsidiary and the largest US provider of ship-to-store and ship-to-home photo output delivery solutions, introduced a series of new products and services. These new offerings create the most comprehensive portfolio of photo products available to all U.S. and Canadian customers. Qualex’s business model enables any customer to profitably participate in the photo category without making capital investments.
• KODAK NEXPRESS M700 Digital Color Press: The latest offering from NEXPRESS provides an affordable, mid-volume press that offers print providers higher overall image quality, higher productivity, higher operational efficiency, with a focus on protecting and preserving memories and keepsakes. The NEXPRESS 700 uses operator-replaceable components (ORC), which enable a high level of self-serviceability for operators to manage image quality, optimize uptime, and control costs.
• KODAK ULTRA MAX Color Film: A new emulsion for all of Kodak’s ULTRA MAX 400 and 800 speed films and single use camera products, boasts brighter colors and enables retailers to offer consumers relevant products to complement their digital picture taking experience.
• KODAK EASYSHARE Z1012 IS Digital Camera: The new KODAK EASYSHARE Z1012 IS Digital Camera features a robust suite of exclusive features that capture detailed pictures in the most challenging settings, yet its compact body can fit in the palm of your hand. The Z1012 IS, with10-megapixel resolution and 12X optical zoom with optical image stabilization, is packed with smart features that make great picture taking incredibly simple.