Ipex Preview - Digital - Star Product: Kodak Prosper 5000XL

Winning the prize for most-hyped Ipex launch is Kodak's flagship colour continuous-feed press, the Prosper 5000XL based on its Stream technology. The combination of Stream technology and the Prosper press is "digital without compromise", says Kodak.

The 5000XL is capable of running at 200m per minute and to handle a wide range of stocks, including glossy coated, historically inkjet's bête noire, in weights from 45-300gsm. Kodak claims 38% higher productivity than rival continuous feed inkjet machines and in an aside squarely aimed at HP's T300, 20% lower running costs and 10 times the reliability of thermal inkjet.

Capable of handling 120m A4 pages per month the Prosper 5000XL is clearly aimed at high-volume markets, but if Kodak's claims stack up then its impact will be felt throughout the market.