Esko solutions at the core of packaging ecosystem

Packaging Solutions

Collaboration with packaging print ecosystem partners and engagement in several drupa events ensures Esko is a preferred supplier in packaging, label, signage and display production.

In addition to its own drupa presence, Esko will support many partner exhibits, events and seminars, underscoring its position as market leader and innovator in packaging management, design, pre-press and production.

‘Working with such an extensive partner network provides us with a diverse and unparalleled view of industry trends, challenges and opportunities,’ stated Philippe Adam, vice president Global Marketing at Esko. ‘It is a reality today that the packaging production workflow gets more and more complex. Esko solutions alone will not solve all industry challenges, but as the preferred open platform at the heart of a multi-faceted production workflow, the integrated ecosystem of partner solutions is the foundation on which our common customers build future-proof businesses.’

The company’s partner network ranges from systems integration, driving presses through digital front ends (DFEs), integrating colour technology to imaging the best possible flexo plate for the job, and driving finishing systems, both analog and digital.

‘Esko itself is always looking to team up with leading technology and solution providers,’ Adam added. ‘That way, we assure our solutions perform to the best of their ability and address the biggest market driven opportunity: to simplify the packaging production process – ‘Packaging Simplified’. Together with our partners, we create the best possible end-user experience and support growth and profitability.’

Apex (hall 11, booth B26) and Esko work together to simplify the implementation of extended gamut printing for flexo converters. Esko’s Equinox and Full HD Flexo, in combination with Apex’ GTT anilox technology, generate exceptional print results for the entire flexo industry. On June 2 at 10 am, the two companies are organising an Extended Gamut Symposium in the Düsseldorf congress centre that will examine why more and more brand owners are choosing suppliers with proficiency in extended gamut printing.

Asahi Photoproducts (hall 11, booth A60) is supporting Equinox’s extended gamut for flexo printing with perfect plate to plate registration and the Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer. The AWPTM water wash plate delivers constant ink transfer from start to finish.

AVT’s (hall 9, booth C60) Autoset solution enables set up and auto initiate of inspection jobs from the Esko automation engine, thus offering automated optimised pre-press to production workflows.

BST Eltromat (hall 10, booth D41 and hall 7 booth B22) offers a wide range of different quality assuring solutions for the web processing industry. With an Esko workflow, the set up of the BST inspection unit is overseen by pre-press, resulting in a dramatically reduced press setup time and elimination of possible operator errors.

Cerm Benelux (hall 17) offers a total integrated workflow and teamed up with Esko to develop a fully automated business and production solution, covering one-up approval cycles and sheet layout automation.

Chili publish (hall 7a, booth F40) has integrated its online document editing software in WebCenter. Together with Esko Dynamic Content, Chili Publish is an integral online editing component of Esko's solution for automated artwork creation.

Color Logic Publish (hall 7, booth C19) develops specialised Adobe plug-ins and palettes for metallic and decorative effect printing. The Color-Logic Design Suite when combined with Studio Visualizer software, enables brands to visualise Color-Logic's special effects on packaging, labels, point of purchase and commercial print prior to going to press. This reduces the time to market compared to traditional prototyping methods.

Comexi (hall 10, booth B20) has moved a step forward in reduction of press set up time and colour matching through the Cingular Match project with partners as Esko and X-Rite. Customers can set new colour and quality benchmarks with Esko Equinox and Esko digital flexo plate making equipment.

Domino (hall5, booth A23) N610i digital colour label presses are powered by Esko DFE and Color Engine.

DuPont (hall 8b, booth C21) is celebrating 20 years of collaboration that brought digital plate making to flexographic printing. Both companies share a long term vision to continue innovating the flexo plate making process. They will be featuring the recently announced XPS Crystal 5080, a new flexo plate UV LED exposure device that combines UV main and back exposure in a single operation.

Durst Phototechnik (hall 6, stand D40) uses the Esko DFE including colour management software.

EFI (hall 9, booth A40) and Esko partner up to deliver certified workflows focused at removing touch points from pre-production operations. By removing costs and allowing operators to work faster and more accurately, integrations between ERP, CAD and prepress solutions are aimed at increasing the margin on every job.

Epson (hall 5, booth A1) and Esko bring together two advanced digital technologies to provide customers with an effective way to streamline the pre-press and workflow process to print consistent, high quality colour labels.

Fujifilm (hall 8B, booth A25) is a reseller of many Esko software and hardware products throughout the world. Its latest development in HD compatible, water washable Flenex plates is optimised for imaging on an Esko CDI. Fujifilm will showcase the new CDI Crystal 5080 on its stand.

GlobalVision (hall 7a, booth E20) developed the Quality Control Platform, allowing users to find and eliminate errors on packaging with automated inspection tools for text, graphics, barcodes, Braille, and printed components. Now integrated into Esko Automation Engine, GlobalVision tickets are an easy way to check the accuracy of files and provide quality control within the Esko workflow.

HP (Hall 17) uses Esko's workflow tools. This results in an extremely efficient end to end workflow. A number of Esko software workflow solutions help drive HP and wide format digital presses, while Kongsberg tables are a perfect extension to HP's printing solutions.

Hell Gravure Systems (hall 16, booth D10) is a long time OEM partner and a reseller of ArtPro packaging pre-press software for gravure applications (HelioCom workstations). More recently, Esko has jointly developed an automated solution that delivers fit for purpose TIFF output and interfaces with HelioDisk machine front ends.

Highcon (hall 9, booth C50) has collaborated with Esko on the Light Editor, a last minute editing tool. The Highcon Axis Web to Pack software platform is also powered by Esko. Highcon is an OEM partner for Esko CAD DFEs, used for last minute customisation of die lines just before digital production.

Landa (hall 9, booth A73) will be showing automation with Esko upstream and pre-press solutions including WebCenter technology as a collaboration tool for its print supply chain, and the Automation Engine and colour management as the packaging pre-press solution to driveits presses through the Landa DFE.

MacDermid Graphics Solutions (hall 05, stand A39) and Esko have enjoyed a long partnership focused on innovative collaborations aimed to maximise print quality and overall productivity for their mutual customers.

Theurer.com (hall 9, booth E14) and its C3 ERP/MIS software for labels, flexible packaging and folding carton delivers out of the box integration with Automation Engine for maximum efficiency in pre-press and production workflow for shared Esko customers.

Strip Plate (hall 3, booth EO4) will demonstrate on its stand how a Kongsberg XE10 digital cutting table cuts and trims its coating plates.

X-Rite Pantone (hall 8b, booth A23) is co-located on the same booth as its sister company. Both companies cooperate in communicating, formulating, measuring and managing colour. Esko’s deep expertise in colour management combines naturally with the industry leading colour instrumentation of X-rite and colour language of Pantone. Both companies support customers to help meet colour standards and expectations on a wide range of substrates and with a broad array of printing technologies. Experts will demonstrate Esko and X-rite Pantone integrated solutions in several Inspiration Zones on the joint stand.

Windmöller & Hölscher (hall 15, booth A41) works with Esko to create an integrated flexo system branded under the name Pro Flexo. At drupa, Automation Engine communicates with W&H’s Miraflex printing press to support the press set up. This communication between Automation Engine and Windmöller & Hölscher Miraflex press and the Esko platemaking equipment are great solutions that will help customers deal with pressure to print shorter runs effectively.

Esko subsidiary Enfocus will have its own zone on the Esko booth, featuring its highly rated software solutions for PDF preflighting and editing and modular workflow automation, including the latest Switch, PitStop and Connect developments. Enfocus will also show a number of Cloud applications for their current integrations including PitStop Server subscriptions, Asset Syncing for Switch and a move towards HTML based user interfaces, in order to maximise flexibility and user experience for users. Enfocus experts will be on hand to explain how these solutions can deliver additional efficiencies.