Since joining Kodak at the end of 2007, a key part of my role is evangelist for flexo, internally and externally of Kodak, and globally to grow the flexo industry. To date I have been to Europe, North, Central, and South America plus Asia. As I travel all over the world visiting Flexo printers and trade shops, as well as other packaging printers, I learn a lot that people like me to share.

It has been suggested that as I do this I could share my findings in a blog series titled "Where in the Flexo World is Dr John?"



The latest trip was to Colombia, my first to South America and now completing a full count for continents visited except Antarctica. In the current economy, Colombia was a real surprise. There are a few reminders of their troubled past, like each motor bike rider is required to have ID vests, but the country has had 8 years of stable government. Everywhere you look there is construction, investment, and signs of growth (they did not take the bad loans as in the US) and their economy is only a little soft, but doing very well.

What we saw at every printer visited were new investments, many presses less than a year old in every site, the newest and most advanced technology, and a client list of who's who for the top packaging brand owners. They also are keen to listen and learn more to improve the print quality they can achieve. They employ many engineers, and apply total quality management and preventive maintenance throughout their operations. They are often self sufficient operations, with film blowing or ink manufacture operations.

There are some of the best analog printers we have ever seen, achieving resolutions and results that mean that going to traditional LAMS digital plates will be a clear step backwards for them.

It is clear that much of the print is for local use, but increasingly it is for export to the US and Europe, and with the investments they are making now, there is the potential that as the world economies recover and demand increases they will take high quality print from other countries in the Americas, and become a major export force, like Turkey does in Europe, especially flexible packaging.

This is a country Tom Kowalski and I look forward to returning to very soon and continue to learn more before extending our introduction to Latin America with Walter Murillo, with a trip to several of the southern cone countries soon.

Two personal lessons from Bogota is that in traffic red lights and stop signs are only optional, but a U-turn will get you a special spot fine from the police, and yes you really need at least 3 hours at the airport for international flights.

An author named Patricia Gallagher recently contacted us because she was "in a bind." She was scheduled to do a book signing in less than a week and her printer wasn't able to fulfill the order in time.

Patricia googled "print on demand," found Kodak, and called us. Our team connected her with a local printer, Alcom, located less than a half hour from her house. Alcom was able to turn the job around in less than two days, and far exceeded the customer's expectations.

Alcom printed the book using a KODAK NEXPRESS 2500 Digital Production Color Press with WATKISS Booklet Maker, KODAK NEXPRESS Glossing Unit, and KODAK DIGIMASTER EX150 Digital Production System in their new digital book factory.



I share this story as a thank you to Alcom, a valued Kodak customer that deserves all the credit for this successful outcome. Kodak only succeeds if our customers succeed, and we commend Doug Yeager, COO; Rodger Weyman, Manager Prepress Digital Print; Sharon Tucker, Marketing Manager; Allyson Dorn, Production Planner; and the entire Alcom team on a job well done.

Thank you Patricia for putting your trust in Kodak and our customers and letting us share your story.

Dear Doug, Rodger, Sharon, Allyson, and Krista:

I am still pinching myself to make sure this is all real. How could I really have this beautiful book in my hands when just three short days ago, I was at a total loss about what I was going to do?

For a mom who is very low-tech and was just googling around on the Internet to have come across something about a Kodak NexPress printer, how I even got my call transferred to Kodak Public Relations and then to Alcom is unfathomable. The whole scenario happened, with one blessing after another, and within 48 hours, I had a van loaded with the highest quality book, with a beautiful cover and very classy paper stock.... all that I could wish for!

I know that all of you worked so hard to make this happen. I can't even imagine what it took for all of you to do it, but you did. Your ingenuity in handling the flap and photo concerns was so innovative. The book just looks STRIKING to me.

Everyone in my family loves the book. The cover is so attractive with the high gloss finish. We will be so proud to bring the books with us on Monday night.

One thing that struck me as so unusual in these stressful times - there seemed to be no "grumpy people" at Alcom. Everybody who I met while there, even a couple of employees in the parking lot and the receptionist, said that Alcom is the greatest place to work.

I thank you from the very bottom of my heart.

With gratitude and admiration for all that you do to help your customers,

Patricia Gallagher
Worcester, PA

As all my colleagues in the Marketing Communications group of EAMER, I gave a hand for the preparation and organization of the truck tour. I was thus very happy to have the opportunity to see it "life" in Ratingen where the truck made its first stop in Germany at a customer site, DocuPoint Rhein-Ruhr GmbH.

The day started with some generic presentations of the products and solutions offered by Kodak. These served as an introduction for the afternoon sessions, visit of the printer facilities and unforgettable tour in the truck.



All visitors could spend some time at the Kodak NexPress 2100 Plus Digital Color Production Press. They could see it running and get a flavour of its capabilities. Although I've seen it already several times in action, I still take any chance to see the sheets going in and around when the press is opened.

In the truck, many stopped at the digital print bar where they could "feel the difference" with the Kodak NexPress Dimensional printing samples. It clearly showed their interest in this new application that can give finished printed jobs a unique appearance.




Customers and prospects could get the latest information in whatever technology was of interest for them, be it the latest APEX system, the Magnus 4up, the Workflows or Kodak NexPress M700. The Kodak staff was there to help and make sure a personalized attention was given to each of them.

Still many destinations to go in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France, so still plenty of opportunities for you to go and visit it. I can tell you, it's worth the trip.
Tschüss!