Kodak filed a motion seeking approval of bidding procedures for the bankruptcy auction of its digital capture and Kodak Imaging Systems and Services patent portfolios. the bankrupt film pioneer acknowledged it had encountered difficulty drawing a lead bidder.
Diversification has served UniGraphic Inc. well during arguably the most difficult economic period in the printing industry since the Great Depression. It is bullish on the future of all things large following the acquisition of two big-bodied inkjet printers.
With the fairgrounds spanning 19 halls, it’s simply not practical to cover all that the show had to offer. For a taste of the rest, the following are some of the key announcements made in other hot product categories, including bindy and finishing, digital plates, Web-to-print and wide-format printing.
Commercial printer equipment installations and other news from Printing Impressions’ June 2012 edition, featuring J.S. McCarthy Printers and Precision Graphics of Oregon.
Eastman Kodak Co. lost a ruling in a two-year legal fight against Apple Inc. and Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) over a patent for digital image-preview technology, a decision that may hurt the value of assets Kodak is selling. RIM and Apple didn’t violate Kodak’s rights because the patent is invalid, U.S. International Trade Commission Judge Thomas Pender said in a notice posted on the agency’s website.
The company’s two digital patent portfolios may be its most valuable assets. Together, the technology is valued at $2.21 billion to $2.57 billion, based on an estimate by 284 Partners LLC
Kodak turned the material over to the government in 2007, under heavy security. But for more than 30 years, the company had a device called a californium neutron flux multiplier, or CFX, in a specially built labyrinth beneath Building 82 at its labs near Rochester, New York. The device was about the size of a refrigerator.
It was not a reactor, but rather a hunk of metal emitting radiation. Its purpose was to create a beam of neutrons to use for scanning and testing other materials. The device's primary source of neutron radiation was the radioactive element californium
Over the course of the show, Kodak exceeded its sales goals and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees around the world. A constant flood of visitors filled the stand to see product demonstrations, talk with product experts, and hear from Kodak customers who are embracing change with Kodak solutions.
Wilen Direct’s installation of the Kodak Prosper S10 four-color imprinting system gives it a powerful hybrid printing solution and the ability to deliver highly personalized direct mail at high speeds matching those of its web offset presses and finishing lines.
Kodak and Ryobi have signed a statement of cooperation to provide hybrid sheetfed press combining offset and digital technologies in a single system. The Ryobi 750 series presses now have the ability to integrate Kodak Prosper S5 inkjet imprinting systems.
Kodak has named Frank Romano the recipient of its Print Ambassador Lifetime Achievement Award. Serving the printing industry for more than 50 years, Romano was recognized for his personal and professional commitment to advancing the medium of print through advocacy and education.
