Gent (Belgium), September 29, 2008 – In printing today, successful companies continuously push the limits of efficiency and strive to adopt the best operational practices to create value and remain competitive. EskoArtwork's mission is to help its customers bring together all the systems, the software and the hardware, people and information assets available to them and effectively connect these into high-performance workflows. Operator guidance, process automation and supply chain collaboration are the drivers fueling EskoArtwork's innovations. To that end, at EskoArtwork's booth 5246 and other locations on the show floor at Graph Expo (October 26-29, in Chicago), the company will demonstrate an extraordinary number of systems and solutions that help printers of all sizes and kinds operate more efficiently.

"EskoArtwork always attaches a high value to connectivity when developing its systems and products", explains Simon James, EskoArtwork Vice President, North America. "Beyond supporting a number of open industry standards initiatives, we also have engaged in a multitude of industry partnerships to complement our and his concept has also been brought 'home', as we have successfully integrated EskoArtwork systems to work seamlessly together. The result: a wide range of packaging and printing preproduction solutions at Graph Expo."

Commercial printing software solutions: plugged into everything

Within a year after the merger between Artwork Systems and Esko, file exchange has been made seamless between editor and workflow platforms, and users of the various components can have confidence that they will work in any EskoArtwork solution. Nexus and Odystar can now take advantage of EskoArtwork tools integrated with their current workflow and proofing systems to considerably increase their productivity. The result is an extremely robust workflow with an exceptional number of options for any commercial printer.

For example, Nexus and Odystar users are now able to implement FastImpose, that can effortlessly handle even the most complicated imposition schemes, including multi-web, (asymmetric) coming-and-going, multiple sections with different trim sizes on the same sheet-and even foldouts (tri-folds and gate-folds). FastImpose additionally offers the use of dynamic and elastic templates, which considerably reduces the amount of required imposition templates to build and to maintain.

Nexus can now also integrate with BackStage, allowing users to take advantage of the powerful BackStage server to maximize productivity, repeatability and consistency. This client-server model gives Nexus users database powered job and data management, it automates To-Do's and communications, and provides exceptional integration with other MIS and ERP systems.

Color for Everyone

Getting color right the first time and every time brings substantial savings across the entire packaging and printing production chain. At Graph Expo, EskoArtwork shows how color management can be integrated into each step of the workflow, from design to press. On display are end-to-end solutions for proofing and output, complete with expert services, based on the Kaleidoscope color management 'engine'. EskoArtworks' "Color for Everyone" features Equinox-a solution for Extended Gamut Printing-and also Concentric Screening, a revolutionary and proven halftone dot technology for offset printing providing greater latitude on press and significant ink savings up to 30%.

EskoArtwork Neo 2.0: Efficient and productive PDF editing

EskoArtwork Neo, recipient of a 2008 PIA/GATF InterTechTM Technology Award, is a stand-alone native PDF 1.7 viewer and editor that gives printers true efficiency and productivity for editing and correction of multi-page PDF files.

Version 2.0 features extended text editing to support linked text blocks, allowing users to make changes to text that influences more than one text block. Text flows between the text blocks during edits. PDF flattening has been added, to allow users to flatten a file for any PDF version. Updates have also been made to be compatible with Enfocus products.

Expertise in packaging

For brand owners, converters and trade shops who visit the booth, EskoArtwork will demonstrate all of the software it is noted for: package design, prepress, workflow automation and integration, output control, collaboration and approval. This includes an updated BackStage featuring a new 'Products' tool that brings basic asset management to the print production room, in a way and vocabulary that is ready to be fully automated with administrative systems, where the Job-order starts and stops; and the new BackStage Viewer, combining different use cases, an extensive set of file formats, and delivering all on both Mac and Windows clients.

The updated version 9.0 of ArtPro is seamlessly integrated into the EskoArtwork solution portfolio. ArtPro reads and writes native Esko Normalized PDF files and now supports the ArtiosCAD native format. This means that ArtPro can easily work with all EskoArtwork viewing applications, including ViewX, the QA tools for flexo plate and print.

Studio, introduced at drupa, puts interactive 3D packaging creation in the hands of designers. This application shows how artwork is applied instantly on packaging. By writing a 3D PDF file, designers can share their ideas with clients for review and approval. Studio reduces the number of mock-ups needed in the process, spots design-errors faster and takes away the guesswork from 2D flats, thus reducing costs.

ArtPro also interoperates with Visualizer, which takes graphic information of a label or package, adds information about substrates, special inks and finishes, and delivers a variety of realistic moving, interactive 2D and 3D representations of the final product, placing it in a specific retail surrounding of choice. With the addition of

EskoArtwork is demonstrating version 7.4 of ArtiosCAD, the world's most popular structural design software for packaging design. ArtiosCAD tools are specifically designed for packaging professionals for product development, virtual prototyping and manufacturing, and version 7.4 has new design geometry and file integration features. ArtiosCAD 7.4 can extract vector geometry data from PDF files and automatically create ARD structure files, while 3D solids with edges can be optimized when rotated. By supporting VMware Fusion for the Mac using Windows XP Professional, users can run ArtiosCAD on the Mac, and Score! native files can be opened directly in ArtiosCAD.

Kongsberg XL 20: Finishing the job

With a work area of 66" x 50", the Esko Kongsberg XL 20 die-less cutting and creasing table delivers record-breaking productivity and versatility. The table offers simple and time-optimized operation, excellent tooling flexibility and an unsurpassed track record for durability. Those interested in finishing signs and large displays choose the XL table with small-lot production in mind, achieving a fully digital workflow that saves the cost and waiting time for a cutting die. Another advantage is that high capacity production equipment is left undisturbed. Several customers have seen a very rapid return on their investment by running their table at a second shift for small-lot orders.

Presentations to make production easier

Throughout Graph Expo, EskoArtwork applications and technology experts will be present to answer customer questions and to give demonstrations on color and workflow technologies.

New EskoArtwork sign and display division in booth, #4847

Commercial printers who explore technologies in the Wide Format Pavillion must remember that every job must be finished. EskoArtwork recently announced that it acquired Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering, Inc. (MGE), the industry reference in vision controlled finishing solutions for cutting tables in the sign-making, screen-printing and digital printing. MGE, now integrated as the sign and display division of EskoArtwork in North America, is the developer of the patented i-cut vision system. Its i-script workflow has become the de-facto international standard. MGE also is EskoArtwork's distributor for the Kongsberg i-XL and i-XE digital converting tables for US sign & display companies. The MGE booth will be the place where all EskoArtwork sign and display hardware and software will be on display, including the i-cut workflow and Kongsberg digital finishing tables.

EskoArtwork will also demonstrate its recently introduced SignUp, an interactive layout application for digital sign and display shops, and large format digital press owners, who are looking to streamline production and minimize material waste. SignUp is perfect for tiling for oversized jobs and billboards. With SignUp, one-up jobs arrive from desktop design and publishing packages and layouts are created based on ordered quantities and job priorities. SignUp can conduct nesting for rectangular as well as irregular shapes, based on the cutting contour. From there, SignUp sends a PDF file to the press and simultaneously sends finishing information to the Kongsberg cutting table.

EskoArtwork present at partner stands

EskoArtwork continues to benefit from strong, long-term business and technology partnerships with some of the leading vendors in commercial printing and converting. At Graph Expo, they include:

Hewlett-Packard, booth 1229: HP will be displaying its production workflow for folding cartons along with a Kongsberg i-XE 10 digital finishing table enhanced by i-cut technology. The packaging design and packaging prepress software demonstrated is based on EskoArtwork Studio for Boxes and the Plato step & repeat solution.

Presstek, booth 2811: Presstek will be demonstrating the North American release of Presstek Latitude, a highly automated and advanced pre-press workflow solution powered by EskoArtwork Odystar. Based on native PDF 1.7 format, it supports the latest standards in JDF and Certified PDF. It offers a complete range of pre-press tools, from preflight, PDF certification and automated document correction all the way to advanced trapping, imposition, proofing and screening.

"If a commercial printer is serious about workflow solutions-and how color can seriously affect quality-they cannot afford not to visit the EskoArtwork booth," concludes Simon James. "While many companies may think only of our heritage in packaging, they forget the depth of experience we have in other areas like commercial printing."