Kodak expands in China

Published: November 07, 2007, By By Yolanda Simonsis, Associate Publisher/Editor

From the Editor

XIAMEN, CHINA | In a media Webcast, Kodak announced a $50-million investment to accommodate expansion in Xiamen, China, for its newest 70,000-sq. ft. plate manufacturing site to produce both digital and conventional plates. Incorporating state-of-the-art technology from all other Kodak plate manufacturing sites, the facility—celebrating its official grand opening on November 6—furthers the overall strategy to manufacture plates regionally for China and Asian-Pacific customers.

The China expansion comes in answer to the double-digit growth Kodak has experienced for its digital plates. Combined with the demand for significant R&D, Kodak can now introduce new products commercially more quickly. In addition, the new plant will free up manufacturing lines in the US for US and North American consumption.

To protect Kodak patents and assure overall intellectual property integrity, Kodak opted to avoid any joint ownership arrangements; the new China plant is a Kodak wholly owned facility. See kodak.com.