Gent (Belgium), March 1, 2004 – Esko-Graphics offers all the hardware, software, and consultative ingredients to integrate the total pre-production process from design to print and short-run production. At DRUPA 2004 the company will demonstrate new and innovative developments in Computer-to-Plate and workflow solutions for packaging and commercial markets, confirming their market leadership in both areas. “Our philosophy is best summarized in our company vision: clear ideas, smart tools, more value. These concepts not only guide our product developments, but also drive our approach to distribution strategies and customer services,” says Kim Graven-Nielsen, President and CEO of Esko-Graphics. “At DRUPA 2004 we will demonstrate that we have developed from a merger of two companies into a strong supplier with a clear vision for the printing and packaging industry of the 21st century.” “The innovative technologies and value-adding solutions we bring to DRUPA 2004, span and even unite the worlds of commercial printing and packaging.” comments René Delbar, Senior Vice-President Marketing. “They are based on the experience of thousands of customers, combined with the hundreds of man-years of research and development brought together into Esko-Graphics. By structuring the pre-production process as an integral part of a larger supply chain, we enable our customers to break new ground and concentrate on developing new business opportunities.” Complete, flexible, end-to-end workflow solutions with Scope Scope is a novel workflow environment encompassing a unique suite of pre-production software tools for the commercial print and packaging markets. Starting from an all-inclusive vision on the complete supply chain, Scope workflows integrate design with production, adding overall collaboration and project coordination. Detailed job specifications are defined at the start, and are carried throughout the entire process to reduce operator error. The Scope architecture decisively builds onto broadly accepted industry data standards, such as PDF for graphics. As a CIP4 member, Esko-Graphics recognizes the importance of compatibility with hardware and software from third party vendors in order to realize a complete, end-to-end workflow. Scope’s workflow and asset management servers are fully JDF-enabled for flexible integration with other pre-production and business systems. BackStage for example is capable of receiving job submissions or other instructions through JDF links, and can also send instructions to other JDF-compatible software. Scope configurations combine a number of software components according to the customer’s application needs: design tools such as DeskPack plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; ArtiosCAD for structural design; collaboration and asset management servers such as WebCenter; workflow servers and expert tools such as FlowDrive, BackStage, PackEdge and Plato; and FlexRip RIPs as the imaging back-end. One of the many new screening options available for FlexRips is HighLine Screens, using innovative high-definition AM screening technology. Esko-Graphics’ DRUPA 2004 line-up will feature several new product introductions as well as updates to virtually all of Scope’s software components, many adding significant new features. New PlateDriver violet CtP solutions Violet CtP technology offers numerous advantages, including lower total cost–of-ownership, longer laser life cycle and convenient yellow safelight handling for plate loading. Esko-Graphics strongly advocates that violet CtP technology offers the best business opportunity for the commercial printer. Extending the popular PlateDriver CtP family, Esko-Graphics will demonstrate at DRUPA the new 4-up PlateDriver Compact CtP system, aimed at smaller printers looking for entry into CtP at a very affordable price tag. The PlateDriver Compact has an internal drum design to assure the highest possible geometric and registration accuracy and perfect dot quality. Similar to other PlateDriver family members, the PlateDriver Compact uses a 40mW violet laser, equally suited to expose silver and photopolymer plates. Esko-Graphics offers a 3-year unconditional warranty on the violet laser system. The system integrates with an existing pre-press workflow or can be implemented with Esko-Graphics’ dedicated FlowDrive 4 workflow solution. Besides the PlateDriver Compact, Esko-Graphics will feature other members of the PlateDriver family, including the PlateDriver 4 Semi; the new PlateDriver 6 Semi and Auto; and the PlateDriver 8 Semi and Auto. Reliable DPX 4 polyester platesetter Responding to the market’s demand for high performance 4-up polyester platemaking, Esko-Graphics announces the launch of the DPX 4 platesetter, an extension of the popular DPX series. Its high-precision internal drum features faster, highly-accurate throughput, reducing make-ready time on the press. Producing imaged, processed, punched, dried and cut-to-size press-ready plates as large as 680mm x 750mm (26.77” x 29.90”), the DPX 4 is able to expose plates at any resolution between 1200 and 3000 dpi, by automatic and dynamic adjustment of the spot size through varying laser intensity and focus, resulting in optimum spots and high quality prints. Innovations in flexo imaging At DRUPA 2004, Esko-Graphics will announce a number of enhancements to its world-leading Cyrel Digital Imager (CDI) platesetters. Added features include improved optics that make the CDI the fastest flexo plate imager in the industry, and semi-automatic plate loading and updated Grapholas flexo software. Optics 80, an enhanced version of the CDI’s award–winning optical technology, is capable of imaging eight square meters of plate per hour, keeping up to speed with plate processing equipment. The new CDI Advance semi-automatic is delivered with a semi automatic-plate-loader (Semi-APL), a ‘trolley’ that contains 16 cassettes – each available to hold similar or different-sized plates up to 50” x 80”. Grapholas flexo software has been enhanced to increase productivity. The new PlatePatcher option automatically divides large format layouts into a number of smallest-size plate patches, adding crossmarks and reference codes for later re-assembly. Grapholas is also available as a stand-alone package called PlatePrep, supporting job preparation and viewing independently from a CDI. Groovy Screens, a new hybrid screening technology using traditional AM screening throughout most of an image, adds a line pattern (or ‘grooves’) into the shadow areas to improve color saturation and solid rendering. New, productive features for Kongsberg Digital Converting Machine (DCM) The Kongsberg DCM is based on the successful Kongsberg XL series of cutting and creasing tables for packaging applications. Since DRUPA 2000, more than 650 tables have been installed at packaging facilities. At DRUPA 2004, Esko-Graphics will introduce and demonstrate two important new features: Optical registration of print-to-cut: this new registration system is ideally suited for corrugated board, permitting the material to be cut and creased with the print side facing down; Remote alert system: To assure that the DCM system can be monitored and run unattended, it can be equipped with a simple attachment that notifies the operator by displaying a message on a mobile phone.