KODAK Plates made in Gunma improve reliability of supply and sustainability for printers throughout Japan

The supply chain issues and geopolitical developments of recent years, along with the increasing focus on sustainability, have created challenges for offset printers seeking a reliable supply of plates from suppliers focused on minimizing their carbon footprint. Considering these challenges, KODAK SONORA Process Free Plates, manufactured at Kodak’s Gunma plant are a smart choice for any printer in Japan.

Kodak has a long history of manufacturing high-quality and technologically advanced offset printing plates to exacting standards and is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year as the first and longest-running manufacturer and supplier of true process free printing plates in the world. Kodak’s state-of-the-art plate manufacturing plant in Gunma, 70 km northwest of Tokyo station, underscores the company’s commitment to greener, local production of consumables.

The location on Japan's main Honshu island and the well-established supply chain and logistics infrastructure in the country ensure that KODAK printing plates can be shipped quickly and efficiently in all required sizes and quantities so that customers across Japan are supplied on time.

The procurement of plates from domestic manufacturing reduces the carbon footprint due to significantly shorter and more efficient transport routes. In addition, in the case of SONORA Process Free Plates, the product itself is considerably more sustainable and has a more favorable ecological footprint compared to traditional wet processed plates.

The switch from processed plates to SONORA Plates eliminates electricity, water, developer, replenisher and gumming solution, and clean-out finisher required for traditional plate processing. Since there is not any chemistry used, and no plate processor in need of cleaning and maintenance, there are no waste chemicals or contaminated residual liquids to be disposed of. Furthermore, printers benefit from more consistent and stable plates that enable more reliable press make-readies and no downtime and paper waste due to plate processing defects. This also means that SONORA Plate users can streamline their platemaking operations enormously, get to press much faster, and reduce job turnaround times. All of this can make a huge difference in terms of carbon footprint.

The most critical feature of SONORA Plates is to enable printers to run their businesses more eco-friendly and resource-saving without having to compromise on image quality, productivity and run length stability. A constantly growing number of Japanese printers are taking advantage of these benefits. Impressive proof of this is that SONORA Plates now account for more than 60% of Kodak's plate production volume in Japan.

Mitsuru Sasaki, Plant Manager at Kodak’s Gunma plate plant, answers a few questions regarding the production of SONORA Plates in Japan and their delivery to customers.

Why is it important for Kodak to have domestic plate manufacturing and related R&D in Japan?

The Japanese market places special demands on the high, consistent quality and performance of printing plates. Local plate manufacturing with our own research and development is extremely important for us to meet these high demands and ensure on-time shipment to our customers. Moreover, domestic manufacturing helps Kodak to compete successfully in the Japanese market and continue to grow our plates business.

What are the benefits to Japanese printers of using Kodak plates made domestically?

The technical and performance features of domestic-made Kodak plates are optimally matched to the needs of Japanese print businesses, making these products an excellent choice for them. With many of Kodak’s customers keeping tight control of their inventory and attempting to keep inventory low, a domestic source is the logical choice to quickly replenish stock in the event of sudden increases in demand. Thanks to local manufacturing, Kodak can offer a robust and flexible supply chain with short transportation routes, ensuring on-time shipment to customers.

What processes have you implemented at the Gunma plant to make plate production more resource-saving and eco-friendly?

KODAK Plates produced in Gunma fall under the site’s ISO 14001-certified program, ensuring consistency in our commitment to environmental, health and safety standards. The site continually strives to reduce its environmental impact and waste. Virtually all aluminum consumed at the manufacturing plant leaves in the form of either offset plates or is recycled. Kodak’s commitment to the environment as well as to our customers in the Japanese printing industry goes hand in hand by considering waste reduction and recycling wherever possible.

Your local business with SONORA Process Free Plates has developed very well. What do you attribute this success to and what do you expect for SONORA in the coming years?

SONORA Process Free Plates manufactured at our Gunma site combine advantageous sustainability properties with multiple quality and application benefits such as fast imaging, high resolution, excellent reproducibility as well as improved handling robustness that no other plates on the market can offer. Continuous product improvements combined with dependable supply and dedicated technical support for our customers have resulted in our SONORA Plates business growing above average. We expect the trend towards the use of these ecologically beneficial plates to continue in the coming years. This is further driven by Kodak's commitment to invest in the continued development of our process free technology as we strive to stay at the forefront of innovation in offset plates.

By opting for KODAK SONORA Plates produced in Gunma, Japanese printers are making a very wise choice. They use the most technologically advanced process free plates, manufactured to the highest environmental standards. In addition, they can be assured of reliable supply and receive a high-quality plate product with unmatched sustainability benefits in daily use.