Kodak Expands Chinese Plate Operation

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Kodak announced the opening of a second production line for its Xiamen printing plate manufacturing facility. The expanded facility in China’s southeastern city will enhance Kodak’s manufacturing capacity for offset products and underlines Kodak’s committment to strengthen its production base for customers in this fast-growing market.

“China and the Asia Pacific region are key markets, and the expanded Xiamen plant gives us closer proximity and enhanced capability in serving our customers in this part of the world,” said Douglas Edwards, general manager and vice president, Prepress Solutions, and vice president, Eastman Kodak Company. “The second manufacturing line in Xiamen will bring our offset production capability to the next level, as this operation will support the manufacturing of Kodak’s leading-edge portfolio.”

The manufacturing line will produce CTP plates for the Greater Asia Region and supply other regions with certain plates. The plant will support the development of current and new products.

“The expanded manufacturing line in Xiamen will introduce Kodak’s cutting-edge production technologies, which will make the plant the most advanced plate manufacturing facility on our global map,” said Diane McCue, general manager, Printing Plates, Graphic Communications Group, and vice president, Eastman Kodak Company.

Kodak previously announced the expansion of the Center of Operations and Support, comprising customer service and internal operations, in Xiamen. The Center offers order processing, business procedures, and other services, as well as human resources and financial support. In August 2009, Kodak also relocated its Southeast Asia-based Logistics Center to Xiamen to support its business in the Asian market.

“The Kodak team will build on its competitive performance, world-class quality, and strong operational experience residing with the existing Xiamen production line to deliver additional capacity from the expanded operation,” said Robert Price, Greater Asia Region printing plates operations director; general manager, Kodak Xiamen Manufacturing Plant, Eastman Kodak Company. “By combining the expanded manufacturing facility with the Center of Operations and Support, as well as the Asia Pacific Logistic Center, Kodak is making Xiamen both an operational and strategic hub for the Asia Pacific region.”