Kodak has announced the opening of its new flexo packaging technology center in Shanghai. More than 50 assembled customers, industry media and partners attended the opening March 29 to see product demonstrations at the new location.

Company officials say the technology center will provide customers and others from the print industry with opportunities to see and discuss demonstrations of the Kodak Flexcel NX System, or to have plates made for printing trials. Kodak can also share its vision for flexographic printing in packaging with trade shops, printers, brand owners and industry partners across the Asia Pacific region. 

This investment by Kodak demonstrates the company’s commitment to flexographic print technology for packaging in China and throughout the Asia Pacific Region.

“The quality, efficiency and environmental benefits of the latest flexo printing capabilities are driving more printers to transition from traditional gravure and offset solutions here in China and the Asia Pacific region,” says Chris Payne, general manager and vice president of the flexographic packaging division at Kodak. “Our world-class technology and packaging solutions are now on display and accessible in this incredibly important part of the world, where we see great opportunities as printers adopt flexo technology to meet their customers’ needs.”

Payne and Yong He, Kodak’s greater China cluster business director, were joined at the opening of the tech center by honored guests Fang Qian, vice division chief for the Press and Publication Administration; and Jianbao Zhou, director of the flexographic printing branch at China Print Technology Association, to formally open the center for business. 

In accordance with local custom, they were joined by Boon Tien Pang, global operations director of the flexographic packaging division at Kodak, to draw the eyes on the lions – boldly decked out in Kodak corporate yellow and red colors – to bring good luck to the facility.

“Kodak technology is delivering solutions to the complete value chain,” says Graeme Kirk, chairman of the Kirk Group.  “We have practical everyday experience of using the Flexcel NX System to convert gravure designs to flexo, bringing flexibility and faster turnaround times to packaging production without compromising quality and opening all-important doors for print standardization.” 

Kodak
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