A new stream jet technology from Kodak

Kodak came up with a new ink-printing technology promising to push laser printing in the market. The new Stream Inkjet Technology was announced in 2008, but no printing devices used it until June, 2009. The Kodak Prosper S10 Imprinting System, using this technology, was released a couple of weeks ago. It represents a monochrome continuous inkjet printhead designed for inline digital printing on high-speed web devices.

The commercial introduction of the Kodak Prosper S10 Imprinting System follows the worldwide customer beta installations that demonstrated the technological and commercial benefits of Stream Inkjet Technology. Kodak stated that all its stream-based products will go under the Kodak Prosper name, as if showing the new opportunities the new technology can bring to corporate clients.

The Kodak Prosper S10 Imprinting System integrates seamlessly with web offset presses and web finishing equipment to add variable data to offset printed materials. Operating at 1,000 fpm (305 mpm) with a resolution of 600 dpi, it allows users to print variable data inline, saving time and money over a traditional, two-step process that combines offset pre-printed forms and offline laser imprinting.
With a print width of 4.16 inches (10.56 centimeters) and pigment-based inks that offer fade, scratch and water resistance, the S10 Imprinting System increases throughput and eliminates the need for additional standalone print devices.

Source: www.kodak.com

Key words: Kodak, ink streaming, printers, cartridges, inkjet, markets

New InkSave program from Dell

Dell announced the launch of its new InkSave program, within which users can return used ink cartridges for an automatic replacement.

The model applied by Dell resembles the one used by Netflix: users return movies in a prepaid envelope and receive the next movie in their list. Dell’s InkSave looks similar to the above model: Dell ships new printers with a pre-installed cartridge and a spare one. When the installed cartridge runs out of ink, the user can send it back in a prepaid envelope to get a new one from Dell. The billing for the new cartridge is done automatically to the user’s account or credit card.

Users can simply sign up for the program on Dell’s website. Then they are sent the kit with the cartridge and envelopes.

Key words: Dell, printers, cartridges, inkjet, supplies, markets

Calculate your printer ink costs

After investigating the high cost of original inks for inkjet printer, the American Consumer Institute (ACI) introduced a calculator aimed at helping customers select a printer that is most cost-effective over a course of three or more years.

The ACI has already criticized printer manufacturers for not disclosing ink costs on packaging. “It’s not a lot to ask to put a value on the box to let customers know how efficient it is,” says Steve Pociask, president of the institute. “And once people buy these printers, they are trapped because the cartridges are not interoperable.”

The link to the calculator is here.

In fact, the institute found that over the useful life of a printer, the actual cost of the hardware may be as little as one-tenth of the cost of the ink, according Mr. Pociask. Accordingly, the ink price per page is the most important information for consumers to consider when buying a printer.

The new calculator enables customers to pick an inkjet that delivers the lowest ink costs based on their printing practices. If you enter three variables: the number of black-and-white pages you print a week, the number of color pages and the number of 4-by-6-inch photos, the calculator will return results that include printer models, cost of the hardware, and estimated cost of the ink. It provides estimated ink costs for three, five and seven years of use.

The calculator makes its decisions based on 17 printers in its database. While this number is a bit limited, the ACI says the calculator relies only on tests from Quality Logic, an independent testing lab that employs industry-accepted ISO standards.

If you’re shopping for an inkjet, the new calculator provides a good estimate of what you can expect to pay.

For example, if you plan to print 50 b/w pages, 5 color pages and 1 photo per day in average during 3, 5 or 7 years, here are the probable costs involved:


Source: New York Times

Key words: inks, printer, color, cost, ownership