Yes, the rumor is true. By now you know that Kodak has gone where no print solution provider has gone before. We came to the largest print show in North America this year with our smartest people and great concepts, plus a bit of technical wizardry. We did not, however, bring the big iron that normally accompanies a show. No Magnus. No Generation News. No Versamark or PROSPER S10. No NexPress SE3600 and no Digimaster EX130. We brought lights, cameras, and lots of action.

The action was not just in the form of the Pipeline of Innovation... the amazing attention-getter that formed the center of our stand, but in the form of sales and marketing team members having real conversations, solving problems, and brainstorming. Major mailers, commercial printers, publishers and packaging producers each found Kodak subject matter experts in the booth to answer questions and find new ways to grow their business. One competitor came over as we were winding down on Wednesday as said, "Tell me, honestly. Did this work?" The answer is, yes it did.

Over the course of these six days people who came to our booth were drawn into a conversation. Instead of seeking out their regular sales team member (or their surrogate), opening the hood on one of the devices, poking around inside and asking about new features, shaking hands and heading to the next vendor, this booth laid the groundwork for problem-solving and thinking outside of the existing relationship. It meant that sales team members had to proactively address the needs of their current customers, and seek out the challenges of prospects who came to see the booth. And, they did!

In addition to the Pipeline of Innovation and the segment pods where we positioned solution conversations, we had Microsoft Surfaces where we could show ideas for solutions. And then there was the KZONE. Have you been out there? www.kodak.com/go/print09 is the home on the web of the hours of video that was the series of live talk shows hosted in the booth. We had industry luminaries and Kodak subject matter experts all engaging in conversations that now form an amazing basis for on-going education.   Frank Romano, and Rynn Johnson, Rance Craine and our own Antonio Perez all came to talk. Jeff Hayzlett featured prominently in many of the shows, as did many Kodak executives. Curious about what TransPromo is? My three KZONE segments explore all of the facets for transaction printers, and also talk through the analogous Direct Mail concept, Smart Data Driven Mail. Interested in packaging? Emma Schlotthauer explained it all. Undecided about digital print? Spend a half hour with Len Christopher and he can set you straight!

The cool thing? The KZONE theatre was standing room only! To get a good sense of all that went on, go out to the Kodak channel on You Tube to see the great video that Jonathan Ghent and the KBTV team put together. And then spend some time in the KZONE. You'll come to understand why the Kodak stand was the place to be, no matter what part of the industry you participate in!

Today is K3-DAY, the third day of a series of Digital Printing Solutions Innovations Days here in the demo center at La Hulpe in Belgium.

'Achtung Baby' was the 7th album of the Irish rockband U2. You'll ask: what does this have to do with the DPS Innovation Days? Well U2 made this album after a lot of thinking and changing. It's also an album in which much more digital technology was used than in their previous work.

Hence the link to our event which is the result of a lot of brain storming, planning, organizing and with a bigger digital portfolio than ever.

The 80+ customers today were welcomed by Ursula Voss-Eiden, Regional Marketing Manager Germany and Reinhold Frech, DPS Manager Germany

After an overview presentation of our DPS solutions, a detailed presentation was given on Kodak's workflow solutions by Oliver Markgraf.

As the last session before lunch, we also got some insightful customer presentations from Mr. Udo Gilgert, Bauer Druck, Mr. Markus Stricker, MSP and Mr. Peter Dehm, T-Systems.



An important aspect of our event are our partners: Hunkeler, Müller Martini, Lasermax, Sappi, Ziegler, UPM, Kanzan, M-real, CVG and GMC. They not only support is with equipment, SW and paper, but also with their knowledge.

As such we've a true knowledge center here during the DPS Innovation Days at the service of our customers when they've specific questions on these topics.

Today is K2-DAY, the second day of a series of Digital Printing Solutions Innovations Days here in the demo center at La Hulpe in Belgium.



'Aux Armes' was the battle cry of the scores of French civilians during the French Revolution. In a way there were quite some similarities: we were swarmed by more than 50 French customers today all wanting to see Kodak's revolutionary and innovative DPS solutions.

The customers were welcomed by Florence Maurice, Managing Director France and Dominique Settbon, Sales Director Digital Printing France.

After an overview presentation of our DPS solutions, a detailed presentation was given on Kodak's workflow solutions.



We also got some very interesting customer presentations by Mr. Thomas Drelon, from STIPA and Mr. Jean-Paul Serneels on behalf of Speos.

In the afternoon the demo was hot and hectic. The 50+ French customers were split in 5 groups that rotated through the demo and the different Kodak solutions. Demonstrators and presenters gave it their best, not once but yes, 5 times in a row!



At the end of the day after coffee, fruit juice and some last interactive chats, the French group got on the bus to Gare du Midi in Brussels from where the TGV (High Speed Train) will bring them in +/- 1 hr safely back to Paris and beyond.

Day 2 was a busy day with an excellent turn-out.

Several French customers told us we should do this more often ... They like the content, format and interactivity of the event!

Today is K-DAY, the first day of a series of Digital Printing Solutions Innovations Days here in the demo center at La Hulpe in Belgium.

Crisis or no crisis, early wake-up to catch the flight, 'stripping' for security at the airport, doing the Gordel (=Flemish for the périférique around Brussels)... still 20 Spanish prospects made it to our first Day of the Kodak EAMER DPS Innovation Days.

The customers were welcomed by Giuliano Bianchet, Country Manager Iberia and Manu Cortizo, IPS Sales Director Iberia.  After an overview presentation of our solutions, the customers could enjoy a very nice finger buffet and some talks with each other, Kodak people and ... several Kodak partner companies that were present too.

Having both filled their stomach and their minds with food for thought, it was time for some hands-on work in the demo where they were presented with our different DPS solutions.

In the demo at La Hulpe they saw a unique line up of Kodak DPS solutions. In the EPS section we've the brand new Digimaster EX300 for BW applications. We also have the M700 NexPress for mid volume, as well as the NexPress 2500 with Dimensional Ink and the new NexPress SE3600.

In the IPS section we've a VL2000 with Hunkeler unwinder and rewinder as well as the new 700 Print Manager.

Fort the first time we also have Stream technology here in the demo with the Prosper S10 BW PrintHead.  Customers get at each solution a short presentation and can witness live demos, and ask questions.  Later today Kodak will invite them for a Dinner here in Brussels at the Atomium.

So far a good start for Day One.

We brought a totally new trade show experience to PRINT 09. These are highlights from the "Pipeline of Innovation" and Kodak's talk show style panel discussions in the "K-Zone":



Here is a playlist of the top moments from the show floor: