KODAK Digital Plates Help Reduce a Printer's Environmental Impact
A history of developing sustainable plate solutions
For over 15 years, Kodak has been a leader in developing thermal printing plate technology. With each new generation of plates, we've reduced the steps in the plate making process, improving process variation and reducing consumption and waste.
1st generation - preheat/postbake - KODAK THERMAL GOLD Digital Plates and KODAK DITP GOLD Thermal Plates (sold in Europe and Asia Pacific) offer high quality and long print runs but require the use of processors, chemistry, and ovens to achieve quality print runs. The conversion to thermal CTP technology allowed the complete elimination of film and film processing, as well as the use of silver-based materials in the plate making process.
2nd generation - elimination of preheat - No preheat/with postbake plates in the Family of KODAK ELECTRA EXCEL Thermal Plates removed the need for prebaking plates, reducing chemistry and energy needed to produce plates.
3rd generation - elimination of preheat and postbake - No preheat/no postbake plates such as KODAK ELECTRA XD Thermal Plates and the Family of KODAK SWORD Thermal Plates removed the need for ovens altogether offering significant reduction in energy as well as reducing chemistry and waste. These plates also enabled the regular use of alcohol-replacement founts without the need of postbaking.
4th generation - elimination of chemistry and processors - Non process plates such as KODAK THERMAL DIRECT and KODAK PF-N Non Process Plates removed the need for processors and chemistry altogether offering a plate solution consuming no additional energy, water, or chemistry without processing waste to dispose of.
Kodak's plate manufacturing plants doing their part
KODAK Digital Plates are manufactured across the globe from operations in the United States, Europe, Japan, and China. All plants have ISO 14001, most have ISO 9001, and some have OHSAS 18001 certifications. View plant certifications. Each plant has goals focused on improving environmental performance.
With Kodak's commitment to sound health, safety and environmental management, its worldwide manufacturing sites continue to be recognized in the communities where they reside.
- The Columbus, Georgia site was nominated for Outstanding Operation of a Waste Water Treatment System by the Georgia Water and Pollution Control Agency.
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- In 2008, Kodak's facility in Leeds, England won a "Highly Commended Award" in the "Process Manufacturing" section of the U.K. Best Factory Awards.
Pictured on right: Michael Harding, Leeds Plant Manager, accepting BFA award
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Kodak's sustainable plate solutions
For years, Kodak has developed digital plates that drive sustainable business practices and provide a safer, healthier environment for customers who use KODAK Digital Plates. Today Kodak offers both thermal and violet plate technologies that continue to reduce chemistry, energy, water and waste from the plate making process.
Chemistry free plate making with THERMAL DIRECT and PF-N Non Process Plates
THERMAL DIRECT Plates for commercial and PF-N Plates for newspapers have eliminated the need for the use of processors and chemistry in the plate making process. Additionally, THERMAL DIRECT and PF-N Plates are non-ablative, removing the need for debris removal systems. Compared to other processed or simple process plates, THERMAL DIRECT and PF-N Plates reduce the resources needed to make plates because they need:
- No developer, chemicals, or clean out solution to process plates offline
- No water to mix with chemistry or wash out the plate
- No additional energy to run processors or clean out units
- No processors or clean out units to manufacture, maintain or dispose of at the end of their lifecycle
THERMAL DIRECT and PF-N Plates also remove the need for special handling of chemistry and waste water and their disposal:
- No chemistry or waste water to dispose of
- No chemistry containers to dispose of or recycle
- No storage space for chemistry required
Low chemistry consumption with ELECTRA XD Plates
| ELECTRA XD Plates are robust and durable no preheat plates that provide high resolution along with long unbaked run lengths and excellent stability. With ELECTRA XD Plates, KODAK 300 Thermal Plate Developer and the KODAK MERCURY T-HD Plate Processor, you have a system specifically designed to provide exceptional stability, productivity, and clean processing. Specific benefits include high throughput, low replenishment rates, efficient maintenance cycles, and an overall clean working plate processing system. |
ELECTRA XD Plates can reduce your impact to the environment
- No preheating and/or postbaking saves capital and operation costs, floor space, maintenance, and energy costs.
- Longer chemical cycles reduce chemical usage and improve processing efficiencies.
- Excellent substrate design reduces makereadies and improves press latitude.
- Better consistency throughout the pressrun reduces waste and the need for re-plating on longer runs.
KODAK VIOLETNEWS GOLD Digital Plates and chemistry offer lower chemical consumption
VIOLETNEWS GOLD Plates are an attractive sustainable solution for newspaper printers. Compared to KODAK VIOLETNEWS Digital Plates, the new VIOLETNEWS GOLD Plates offer several advantages. | 
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Reduce waste in prepress
- Lower replenishment rates (up to 60% reduction), and higher developer capacity offer chemical volume savings, waste reduction, and environmental improvements.
- Clean and efficient processing uses simple water wash during developer changes.
- Developer system is less reliant on tight pH control, thus offering better bath control and output quality, and reduction of waste through higher consistency.
Reduce waste on press
- Wide and improved handling latitude gives better control of day-to-day quality output and better plate performance on press.
- Quick to color and clean sheets from press startups and restarts save waste, time, and costs and reduce quality variations.
- Improved chemical resistance gives wider operating latitude to fountain solutions and press wash choice, including more environmentally friendly alcohol substitutes.
SWORD EXCEL Plates use low pH negative chemistry
SWORD EXCEL Plates require no preheating or postbaking, cutting processing times and allowing you to use smaller processors which consume less energy, and are simple and easy to maintain. SWORD EXCEL Plates offer:
- The ability to have both short and long-run applications using a single processor
- Fantastic on-press durability without postbaking
- Fast developing in stable, low-pH, long-life negative chemistries
- Long run lengths for less waste in prepress and on press
KODAK S Plate Processors offer smaller footprint
| SWORD EXCEL Plates develop quickly in stable, low pH, long-life negative chemistries. Dedicated S Plate Processors are smaller than typical plate processors, cut processing time, consume less energy and are simple and easy to maintain. |
Kodak's Aluminum Printing Plate Recycling Program
Working with United Scrap Metal, Inc. (USM), Kodak designed this program specifically to help its United States and Canada customers recycle aluminum plates while receiving maximum value and helping preserve the environment. Kodak customers receive premium preferred pricing with USM, who also coordinate the pickup or shipment of aluminum printing plates and expedite direct payment to customers.
By participating in this Aluminum Printing Plate Recycling Program (PDF 272K), customers will be:
- Benefiting the environment by reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfills
- Preserving precious natural resources by recycling aluminum
- Receiving premium preferred pricing for your scrap aluminum printing plates, which Kodak has negotiated through aggregated national volumes
- Utilizing a nationwide pre-qualified Recycling Partner Network
Kodak's Chemistry Container Return & Reuse Programs
In addition to the recycling of aluminum plates, Kodak also offers container recycling for chemistry drums and totes. Kodak arranges to efficiently transport these containers to be inspected, cleaned, and reused in the manufacturing process, reducing the natural resources needed to produce these containers.
Reducing chemistry with Chemical Conservation Units
The Chemical Conservation Unit (PDF 3MB) (CCU) is a product designed to optimize the developer replenisher usage in KODAK Q and MERCURY P-HD Plate Processors. The CCU reduces the overall developer replenisher usage up to 50% and does not require a filter. Furthermore, it can help achieve compliance with Publically Owned Treatment Works (POTW) effluent disposal regulations by reducing biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and other parameters.
Reducing H2O with Water Recycling Units
The Water Recycling Unit (PDF 214K) (WRU) is designed to conserve water during plate processing. It can be conveniently retrofitted to KODAK S, Q and MERCURY P-HD Plate Processors. This system is ideal for those who want to reduce water consumption and save money on water and sewer bills. It can also be a very useful tool for minimizing the effluent for printers who cannot dispose of their rinse water to the local sewer system.
Water Saver Units
Water Saver Unit (PDF 4.9MB) (WSU) is designed to work in conjunction with both conventional and Computer to Plate (CTP) plate processors as a stand-alone source of rinse water. The WSU is designed for applications where minimizing water consumption and/or waste effluent are of primary concern. By utilizing a self-contained, closed loop system the customer can recycle, control and monitor all water usage from the plate processing operation. This unit is also useful in applications where direct access to building plumbing is limited or non-existent. All new (non-refurbished) KODAK Plate Processors have the ability to use recycled or partially recycled rinse water if the application and local water conditions are suitable.
