At booth
5202, Esko will participate at Labelexpo Americas 2012 (September 11-13,
Chicago) with its largest presence ever. Esko will demo a range of products and
services that offer tag and label printers 'Results that make you smile' - the
company's campaign theme launched at drupa. In addition to a host of products
introduced at drupa, the company is unveiling new solutions that will be of
specific interest to tag and label printers.
“Over the past year Esko has been developing a number of new prepress
applications for label printers working with flexo, digital, gravure or offset.
We offer an extensive array of sophisticated software tools, flexo plate
imagers and finishing systems. All of our solutions have one objective: to help
companies optimize costs, streamline workflows and improve quality and
consistency,” remarks Mark Quinlan, president, Esko Americas. “I am confident
that any visitor to our booth will find a number of solutions capable of
delivering results that will make them smile.”
New product focus for label production
At Labelexpo Americas, visitors can expect the commercial availability of PantoneLIVE support within
Esko’s workflows. PantoneLIVE delivers an end-to-end color management and color
communication solution that, for the first time, addresses the needs and
requirements of every single discipline within the packaging supply chain. The
brand manager will see an accurate representation of on-press color early in
the design process, while converters can be assured of first-time-right color
proofing and easy-to-match color on press. Experience with beta sites that have
been testing the solution show very positive ROIs.
In a related development to PantoneLIVE, Esko recently developed an improved ink model. This is a critical
component to the definition of color from the PantoneLIVE cloud. The new ink
model helps to predict how Pantone colors interact, and overprint on press.
Using spectral analysis, the technology will produce an inkjet proof that shows
an accurate representation of what the result of two overprinting spot colors
will look like on the press.
Esko will be also be describing its ongoing efforts in remote proofing, where this technology produces the same results
remotely as they do at the primary prepress site. Esko will be offering a
softproofing solution first, with easy off-site calibration.
Historically, when labels are produced with hybrid printing – typically a screen or flexo press in tandem with
a digital press – separate workflows are required to drive each station. That’s
because each printing process requires different parameters such as inks and
distortions. Esko will be introducing new automated production software that
requires just one workflow to drive all the stations – with the elimination of
many steps, and reduction of errors as a result.
North American premiere of latest
solutions for label prepress
During Labelexpo, a raft of new solutions launched earlier this year at drupa
will be shown for the first time in North America. On twelve workstations,
visitors will discover a wide array of software solutions addressing label and
tag artwork, management, design and prepress, color management, workflow
automation and process integration. With the release of Suite 12, Esko focuses on adding value for the user by introducing
new productivity and efficiency benefits. This is done by closely integrating
all flagship tools and engines, by adding rich 3D functionality for a holistic
experience, and by enabling mobile collaboration and web-based packaging
management.
Featuring WebCenter 12, Automation Engine
12, Color Engine 12, Studio 12 and the version 12 editions of flagship
editors ArtiosCAD, PackEdge,
ArtPro and DeskPack,
Suite 12 raises the bar for process integration from design to press, involving
all players in the supply chain. It provides a complete answer to the
challenges of a modern label preproduction workflow.
The Digital Finishing highlight of the event will be the new Kongsberg XN: a highly versatile and
productive digital finishing table that can be configured easily for the widest
range of applications from kiss-cutting to packaging mockups, heavy-duty
milling and simple to complex flexo plate cutting with ID marking. This new
table comes equipped with the impressive milling spindle MultiCUT-HP, boosting
overall milling productivity. Along with the Kongsberg XN20 will be the Kongsberg i-XE10 Auto, a versatile and
productive digital finishing system, perfect for all kinds of labels. Equipped
with a stacker and sheet feeding system, the Kongsberg i-XE10 Auto finishes
small-format, short-run digital printed materials, accepting sheets as large as
35.4" x 47.2".
Esko’s Digital Flexo Suite
automates and improves plate preparation activities in the flexo plate room and
reduces plate waste by at least 15% - as well as significantly reducing errors
and labor. By nesting label artwork onto plates and cutting them automatically
on the Kongsberg cutting table, printers save plate material and produce label
artwork faster.
Esko digital flexo plate imaging:
delivering label printers outstanding print quality
At Labelexpo, Esko will showcase its leadership in advanced digital flexo
solutions. Combining CDI digital flexo imagers with HD Flexo technology, Esko has driven flexo printing to quality
comparable to gravure and offset, delivering customers the high quality print
results they demand. Worldwide, hundreds of HD Flexo Certified customers,
digital flexo partners and vendors benefit from accurate, sharp imaging quality
combined with greater consistency and full tonal range, including highlights
with gradients down to zero, stable mid-tones and higher ink density solids.
This means end users can have more striking and visually impressive products
with all-important shelf impact. In addition, the innovative development of
creating flat top dots with Inline UV generates sharper definition for
outstanding image results. A wide variety of brilliant real-life label and
flexible packaging samples will be presented on the stand. Also on display will
be the economically priced new size of CDI 2420 for small label companies
working with tight budgets.
Esko shares its passion for label
printing with strong partners throughout the show
HP Indigo (3223) and Esko have a
close, successful strategic partnering and pioneering relationship in digital
print for labels and packaging. This collaboration has been well received by
converters who are making the transition to digital production in a highly
competitive market. The combination of Esko’s leading workflow tools and the
unmatched quality and efficiency of HP Indigo digital presses has set a lofty
standard for labels and packaging. HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging workflow
solutions, powered by Esko, simplify prepress and color management in digital
label and packaging workflows for HP Indigo industrial presses. Advanced
capabilities include color space conversions and color management, bar code
generation, step & repeat and variable data capabilities. To demonstrate
their partnership, on the Esko booth photos of visitors – in front of a green
screen – will be taken and processed through Esko Automation Engine 12.
Completed images will be sent to the HP booth, where they will be printed on an
HP WS6600 digital press as personalized portraits in front of a Chicago landmark.
Next to the Esko booth, DuPont
Packaging Graphics (5403) and Pitman
Company will display the CDI Spark 2530, showing how plates can be
imaged and labels automatically cut on the Kongsberg XN. The CDI 2530 images
digital flexo plates up to 25” x 30” and comes with an incorporated plate
loading table and an EasyClamp II drum for easier and faster plate loading.
Other partners, such as Anderson &
Vreeland (booth 929), JV Imaging
Solutions (booth 5523), Xpedx
(booth 3908) and others are likely to display Esko software, CDI imagers
and Kongsberg finishing tables during Labelexpo.
Esko to share its knowledge during a
number of Labelexpo events
Esko is significantly involved not only with product demonstrations at its
booth, but also in educational activities for the benefit of attendees.
On September 13, the Digital Printing
Master Class will help label and packaging converters looking to invest
in digital printing for the first time. The master class will feature key
industry experts who will explore the current state of the art in digital
printing, analyze the primary digital printing technologies, evaluate workflow
and color management and identify in- and off-line finishing options – among
other topics. Jan De Roeck, Esko director solutions management, will offer a
presentation covering prepress solutions for cost efficient and profitable
digital printing of labels and packaging.
Esko also participates in the Labelexpo technology workshops. This year's Laser Die Cutting workshop will feature Sei Spa,
Spartanics, AB Graphic International and Delta Industrial in four workshops
overseen by a neutral moderator, cutting different profiles for labels. During
the workshop, Esko will be receiving web-to-print and MIS data and provide the
front-end design and workflow support for all participants.
Package printing is one of the fastest growing areas in the industry. New
technologies in this area will be showcased in the Package Printing Zone in a dedicated area in Hall C during three
daily workshops. Preceding each session, Esko will be offering insight into the
design and color management considerations for digitally printed folding
cartons and in-mold labels.
“Esko has always taken a leadership role teaching printers about the nuances of
package and label printing,” adds Quinlan. It’s not just enough to offer
exceptional solutions. We want our customers – and the industry – to make the
most of the tools they have. An educated industry is more competitive and more
successful, which is good for everyone.”
Esko
www.esko.com
At Labelexpo Americas 2012, Booth Showcases Hybrid Printing Workflow, Remote Proofing Solutions
July 16, 2012
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