Ghent, Belgium – Esko’s significant presence at FESPA 2015 (stand R50, Hall 6), starting today in Köln (Germany), brings answers to sign and display operations of all sizes, whether it is a need for speed or a search for highly flexible finishing solutions that can address a wide array of substrates and applications. These operations are among the most creative people in the graphic arts industry, and Esko stands ready to help them bring that creative vision to reality.

Combining Esko Kongsberg’s unique precision equipment with its renowned prepress software results in integrated end-to-end solutions for every need, suitable for any sized business. Making the right software choice helps businesses handle a greater number of jobs more economically while shortening cycle times. Esko software solutions remove time-consuming labor from the work process and cost-efficiently enhance throughput and capacity, making a significant difference in bottom-line performance and strengthening customer relationships.

At the show, Esko is also celebrating 50 years of constant innovation in cutting-edge finishing tables with the golden jubilee of Esko Kongsberg. “Digital finishing is a vital part of Esko’s strategy, and Esko Kongsberg is key to our future success and that of our customers. We are proud to be celebrating a half century of excellent technology, strong skills and great know-how, and are looking forward to the next 50 years of Kongsberg innovation!” comments Udo Panenka, President of Esko.

Explore the Kongsberg Universe

Carefully crafted over five decades, the current Kongsberg product portfolio includes three Series:

The Kongsberg V-Series for cost-effective sign and sample-making:

The two models of this Series deliver value, durability, reliability, precision and ease of use at an attractive investment level. The Kongsberg V for packaging sample making, short run mock-ups and other packaging specific applications is equipped with a FLEXIHead for highly accurate, powerful cutting on all flexible and thin materials such as paper, folding carton, vinyl, textile, etc.The Kongsberg V for signage and display production comes with a MultiCUT tool head, offering milling productivity and a camera system.

Paul LeBlanc, owner of FASTSIGNS^® of Vancouver, states: "In the history of our business, success has come through technology. In the early years, there was thermal transfer printing, then inkjet printing. Now I see the Kongsberg table, and flatbed cutting, as a way of staying ahead of the competition by providing services unavailable from other businesses."

The Kongsberg X-Series for versatile, robust, productive digital finishing, includes:

• The smaller format Kongsberg XE, a fast, high-quality solution for sample making and short-run production of folding carton and more. A wide range of specialty tools offers speed, power and flexibility to automatically handle a wide variety of materials common in sample making: corrugated, folding carton, solid board, foam, coating blankets, wood and a long list of plastics

• Signage, packaging or displays are the remit of the seven different sizes of the highly versatileKongsberg XN. Its unique MultiCUT HP milling performance brings milling speeds that are up to three times faster than the standard head while the backscore feature cuts and creases materials from both sides in perfect registration, another unique functionality

• The highest throughput is achieved with the Kongsberg XP that accurately finishes the most challenging materials. It was designed especially for handling the combination of corrugated board and other rigid or roll materials in POP products and product displays. The Kongsberg XP CAD cutter ensures an unsurpassed throughput that no other cutting table can compete with.

• The fully automated dieless finishing machine, the Kongsberg XP Auto, completes the X Series. Built for 24/7 production, it comes loaded with functionality that boosts productivity and ensures reliable operation. Thanks to the automatic loading and unloading, the XP Auto runs completely automatic, even unsupervised, 24/7. As it cuts directly from the CAD designs, it removes the cost and turnaround time for cutting dies, as such ensuring short-run and special projects remain profitable.

Kelly Signs, a Kongsberg i-XP24 owner, has transformed its business with this table. The contour cuts that used to take them 45 minutes by hand now take 45 seconds. In addition, it gives them a much nicer finish. “The Kongsberg i-XP24 table is an unbelievable tool that is taking our business to the next level,” said Mark Steinberg, General Manager. “Our cutting is so much faster and we’ve got pretty much every option. Having a router along with all our other tools opens markets we never would have dreamed of.”

The Kongsberg C Series for super-wide finishing productivity:

The Kongsberg C, available in two formats, is the first multifunction super-wide digital finisher for signage, display and packaging applications. It is designed to keep up with the faster, wider digital printers of today and tomorrow, and stands for capability, capacity, consistency, choice and complete. Consistent precision and accuracy are guaranteed by the lightweight carbon composite traverse beam which is unique to Esko.

Tim Hill, Speedscreen Managing Director and a Kongsberg C64 owner, says, “Esko’s solutions are a key component of our growth strategy. They allow us to be faster, more responsive, have tighter controls over margins and offer a more creative service. It future-proofs our business.” The company is on target to keep its 30% year-over-year growth going with the help of its Kongsberg C64.

Tools of the trade: more than cutting

For even more flexibility and functionality, the Kongsberg portfolio is supported by a range of Kongsberg tools via its online consumables store. This includes more than a hundred high-quality cutting blades, router bits and accessories with the latest additions being a psaligraphy knife tool that cuts out the finest details in paper and folding carton, a 60 mm perforation wheel enabling users to create tear and crease-assist perforations in corrugated board up to 4 mm thick, and a new Braille tool. The latter is loaded with clear acrylic ‘Braille spheres’ that are inserted into small holes that will function on most rigid materials more than one mm thick. The unmatched selection of tools truly enables customers to extend their offerings and expand their businesses with the most creative use of materials and applications.

“We are very excited to be talking with visitors at the show,” concludes Armand Gougay, Esko Vice President EMEA. “It is a time for mutual inspiration – we know we will learn a great deal from visitors to our booth that will guide us in future R&D efforts, and we hope that our visitors will gain inspiration from us as well.”