Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group Industrial Imaging Solutions Group Receives British Columbia Technology Industry Association Impact Award for Excellence in Product Innovation

LCD color filter manufacturing process cuts costs, waste, and chemical use

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 22—Photolithography, the most widely used technology for the manufacture of LCD televisions and computer monitors, is a costly process requiring expensive masks and a significant infrastructure to handle chemicals and etchants. The size of the display manufacturing industry, coupled with a chemically intensive process, poses a potential burden to both the industry and the environment.

DuPont Imaging Technologies is developing a new process called Thermal Color Filters (TCF) for the manufacture of LCD filers. Kodak’s Industrial Imaging Solutions (IIS), which is part of the Graphic Communications Group (GCG), was selected to develop the equipment component of the new system. Kodak’s GCG IIS Group has developed an advanced manufacturing tool that uses laser imaging to produce color filters for LCDs, and, specifically, large LCD televisions, in a way that reduces cost and chemical usage.

Kodak has been recognized by the British Columbia Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) with a Technology Impact Award for its work in developing this technology. Founded in 1994 and now in its 15th year, the Technology Impact Awards honor business excellence in British Columbia, recognizing the people and innovation that shape the technology market.

In development for more than seven years, the concept is based on Kodak’s existing laser thermal transfer technology that has been used in the KODAK APPROVAL Digital Color Imaging System and KODAK MATCHPRINT Digital Halftone Proofing System for many years. The TCF manufacturing process creates a multicolored filter with an infrared laser beam that thermally transfers colorants from a donor sheet to a glass substrate, similar to the way a laser beam transfers colorants from film to substrate in the thermal proofing process.

“Kodak’s long history of thermal transfer experience in the proofing market has equipped us to take on this development challenge,” noted Judi Hess, General Manager, Enterprise Solutions, GCG, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “The global LCD market is huge, and we are pleased to be able to offer a manufacturing alternative that reduces the environmental impact while increasing efficiency.”

The TCF process reduces the number of steps involved, increases manufacturing flexibility, and reduces waste, and because it is a dry process, chemicals associated with photolithography are not required. The manufacturer’s capital investment is reduced because less equipment and less clean room space is required, and TCF offers the complete flexibility for change that comes with an all digital process. The total manufacturing savings is more than 30 percent per LCD panel.

“The BCTIA Excellence in Product Innovation Award validates the hard work of our scientists and engineers in this area,” said Eran Elizur, General Manager, Industrial Imaging Solutions, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group. “It is an honor for Kodak, and we are excited about the potential of this thermal color filter manufacturing process.”

A full scale prototype has been in production with a customer in Asia since 2006, and has proven very successful. Kodak is in the process of commercialization and received the first customer order for a commercial system in October 2007.

About Kodak

As the world’s foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and printing to enrich their lives.

To learn more, visit http://www.kodak.com, and our blogs: 1000words.kodak.com, PluggedIn.kodak.com, and GrowYourBiz.kodak.com.

Editor’s Note: Kodak corporate news releases are now offered via RSS feeds. To subscribe, visit www.kodak.com/go/RSS and look for the RSS symbol. In addition, Kodak podcasts are viewable at www.kodak.com/go/podcasts. Our podcasts may be downloaded for viewing on iTunes, Quicktime, or other PC-based media players. Users may also subscribe to Kodak podcasts via the iTunes application if already installed on your computer. From the iTunes store, type “Kodak podcast” in the search field to view all of our podcast offerings.

For more information about Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, visit www.graphics.kodak.com. For downloading photos and videos from Kodak’s image library, visit: http://graphics.kodak.com/gcgimages.

(Kodak, Approval and Matchprint are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.)

2008

Media Contacts:
Beth Hogan Scott, Kodak, +1 203-845-7115, Elizabeth.Hoganscott@kodak.com
Amanda Slaver, Eric Mower and Associates, +1 585-389-1876, KodakPR@mower.com