Invisible ink opens up security market
Kodak introduces Red Fluorescing Dry Ink for the Nexpress production presses, opening up new security and inventory management applications.
The ink, which is clear to the naked eye, becomes red fluorescing when illuminated with an appropriate ultraviolet (UV) light source. The ink can be used to print unobtrusive images and non-reproducible bar codes on various printed materials, which can then be read with specialised bar code readers.
The new ink allows clear bar codes to be printed inline and can encompass variable data printing. According to Steve Fletcher, general manager of electrophotographic printing solutions, Kodak, the ink allows printers to access new markets and sectors.
“This innovative expansion of the NexpressFifth Imaging Unit Solutions allows digital print service providers to enter the lucrative and growing secure documents and ‘track and trace’ markets,” he said. “The amazing versatility of the family of Kodak Nexpress Digital Production Color Presses is designed to help print service providers stay on the forefront of a demanding, quickly changing marketplace.”
Kodak believes that the ink will allow commercial printers to expand their digital print operations into secure documents and other businesses, and will provide book printers with new ways to take advantage of inventory management and automation movements. Commercial printers can also use the clear bar code for their internal workflow for downstream finishing and binding operations.
