Halle / Westphalia -- April 2005 -- The world’s most important market for high quality products is North America. Germany enjoys the reputation of producing some of the highest quality package printing in the world. The most important market and outstanding quality go hand in hand. FLEXICON AG, leading Pre-Press house for high quality packaging from Germany, is developing a subsidiary in Kentucky. "FLEXICON is the first European specialist to meet grow-ing demand and take that all-important step across the Atlantic", says FLEXICON CEO Gabriele Kison. From May, the subsidiary 'FLEXICON Corporation', based in Florence / Kentucky, will offer a complete PrePress port-folio for high quality packaging – from artwork right through to the finished flexo plate. According to Kison, "by setting up operations on location, we can provide our American partners with flexo plates of German quality even quicker". The most modern technology for the highest quality Only the very latest technology, which has already estab-lished itself throughout Europe and in FLEXICON branches around the globe, is to be used. "The technol-ogy will be the finest the world can offer PrePress pack-age printing", announced FLEXICON’s Technical CEO, Gerrit Sander. Just as in the German headquarters, the utmost importance will be placed on a completely digital-ized workflow. PrePress stage completely digitalized Apple workstations with state-of-the-art software pack-ages and comprehensive data input controls will be avail-able for artwork. Reproduction will take place on Esko workstations with PackEdge 4.0. Contract colour proofs will be produced in a digital inkjet process on the very latest DuPont Digital Cromalin Generation B2. At 21x 26½ inches, FLEXICON has opted for the largest format which can currently be achieved in digital proofing. The installa-tion of Esko Kaleidoskop 3.0 with integrated ICC profiles ensures perfect colour management between all devices. State-of-the-art digital imagesetter The latest Cyrel Digital Imager (CDI) Advance APL from Esko Graphics has been installed in Kentucky for flexo plate production. With a capacity of four square metres an hour, it is one of the fastest and most efficient direct laser imagers for flexo plates on the market. Capacity which can be increased at any time The online connection to FLEXICON’s global manage-ment information system, ProGate, shortens reaction times and increases flexibility. According to Kison: "our workflow is so standardised that we can achieve the same quality anywhere in the world from the same data". On demand, additional repro capacity at the FLEXICON operations in Germany, Saudi Arabia and China can be used at any time for the North American market. Utmost professionalism of our staff Phill Jones, the Director of FLEXICON Corporation in North America, can always rely on German FLEXICON experts for the installation of technology. These experts are also responsible for the training of new staff in order to familiarise them with the quality systems. "The utmost professionalism of staff combined with direct access to European PrePress know-how are the key to maximum precision", stressed Gabriele Kison. Rapid growth thanks to quality and flexibility For over 20 years, FLEXICON AG has been one of Europe’s leading forces in terms of quality and innovation in the PrePress sector for high quality packaging. The company has enjoyed an average growth rate of 20% p.a. over the last 5 years. Quick reaction times, independent decision-making and innovative direct service concepts are what make FLEXICON AG, privately owned enter-prise, stand out. FLEXICON customers, which include Procter & Gamble, Masterfood and Kellogg’s, have valued the high quality standards for years. Perfect brand management for global players This step into the demanding American market is a result of a consistent focus on global brand management. "The objective of our work is that consumers choose our cus-tomers’ products at the point of sale," explained Kison. Thus, first-class packaging with a globally consistent print quality is an absolute must. "This can only be ensured with centralised data management and regional produc-tion services", says Kison. This is why one of FLEXICON AG’s philosophies is to follow its customers in their own markets in every corner of the globe.