From its significant booth at Chicago’s Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Esko is demonstrating how its portfolio of hardware and software enables businesses to better digitise, automate and connect to accelerate the go-to-market process of packaged goods.
“We know that label converters face tremendous pressure in today’s turbulent and volatile market, with an ever-growing need for accuracy, consistency and efficiency,” said Melissa Plemen, Senior Director of Inside Sales and Marketing at Esko. ‘From our CDI Crystal XPS flexo platemaking solution through to our AVT print inspection technologies, visitors will learn how Esko solutions empower label professionals to improve ways of working, eradicate waste and optimise operational processes.
“We will demonstrate how our software and hardware solutions combine to deliver the most effective, state-of-the-art workflow automation and quality inspection for label converters. Thanks to cloud-based workflow automation, complete integration with MIS is possible throughout the entire prepress workflow. So now all processes are connected – from design, editing and colour accuracy through to customer feedback and approvals with WebCenter.”
Esko is also showcasing innovations in ArtPro+ including printing unit support and repeat layout creation, as well as folding carton improvements, a new usage dashboard, and enhanced WebCenter usability features improving ease of use and maximising productivity and efficiency.
“We’ll also demonstrate how the recently acquired Tilia Labs range of intelligent algorithms for sheet layout, estimation and planning have been integrated with Automation Engine and the Esko software platform,” said Plemen.
At the heart of the Esko booth, the CDI Crystal 4260 XPS, in combination with the new Flexo Engine module, will demonstrate how digitisation in flexo production also boosts efficiency while delivering the best quality plates.
“The CDI Crystal XPS excels in efficiency, reducing manual steps by 50% and errors by 50% resulting in less plate waste, alongside reducing operator time by as much as 73%,” said Plemen. “Boosted by our Print Control Wizard software – which in the latest release now includes additional X-Rite colour profiling, reducing the number of print trials for press fingerprinting – the system produces plates that deliver the optimum print results.
Underlining the benefit of automated processes, Esko is demonstrating its AVT Helios line too. A market-proven, automatic 100% inspection solution designed for labels and other narrow web printing applications, the Helios system automatically inspects the printed web for defects and imperfections, delivering exceptional quality results and eliminating customer rejections.
“With over 3,000 installations worldwide, Helios instantly identifies defects on labels as soon as they occur, reducing waste, boosting performance, and delivering 100% quality assurance,” Plemen added.
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Esko’s CDI Crystal XPS flexo platemaking solution