Seeing the new NexPress M700 based on the Canon ImagePress C7000 but "built to Kodak's specifications" makes me curious -- what is the engineering background of the mainstay Kodak NexPress digital presses. I thought digital presses such as the 2100 were Kodak-designed from the ground up -- is this true, or no?

In 2004 Kodak acquired Nexpress from Heidelberg, originally having conceived Nexpress as a joint venture between Kodak and Heidelberg. The first NexPress was shown at Drupa 2000. Heidelberg developed the press mechanically with their obvious legendary sheetfed printing experience, and Kodak developed the imaging software and electronics. As the Kodak NexPress "press video" posted a bit down in this forum highlights, one thing that set the NexPress apart was the press-like strategy of operator-replaceable parts to reduce operating costs and maximize productivity without having to have a dedicated service tech come to the site to perform "click charge" routine maintenance with the digital press down waiting for developer or an imaging drum swap for example.