Kodak has released its Sonora UV process-free plate into a number of markets including Asia and Australasia.

It will also be available in European markets and the Gulf states.

The Sonora UV plates are rated for up to 30,000 impressions, claimed to be more than any other process-free plate for UV.

The plate is based on technology used in the Sonora XJ, commercially available in Japan since last year. Like the flagship XP version, it works with existing press setups and sequences.

Running on heatset and commercial coldset presses, they can be used for applications including commercial print, newspapers, offset packaging, and UV.

Worldwide offset general manager and print systems vice president Richard Rindo says Kodak is committed to investing in R&D that opens up a wider range of applications for printers, in the most environmentally way possible: "More than 3000 customers around the world are yielding significant cost and environmental benefits from Sonora and with Kodak manufacturing facilities now located in the USA, Europe, Japan and China, they can benefit from faster supply, support and customer service."