When packaging for an estimated eight in 10 major brands currently is produced using tools developed by EskoArtwork, it’s hard to question the merged company’s dominance as the leading system integrator of packaging preproduction solutions. Since the merger of Esko Graphics and Artwork Systems was announced in August 2007, however, the combined company not only has accelerated its drive toward more software-driven systems integration, but has embarked on an ambitious growth plan driven largely by the inclusion of commercial printing as a target market segment.  While the company emphasizes that its further growth path remains based on packaging and on software, it also sees significant opportunities in commercial development, based on unique solutions developed by both Esko and Artwork Systems. EskoArtwork is confident that it will be able to exploit the synergies derived from the merger for the benefit of existing and potential new customers, who will be able to mix and match components from either product line to suit their business needs.

The combined company has accelerated its drive toward more software-driven systems integration, and embarked on an ambitious growth plan driven largely by the inclusion of commercial printing as a target market segment.

The logic behind the renewed push into the commercial printing space is straightforward: EskoArtwork views the worldwide commercial printing market as a much larger one than packaging. As such, it is also one the combined company plans to address through the distinct quality features of its product lines, as well as through its expertise in automating the complex workflows typical of much packaging. The company plainly acknowledges stiff competition from workflow developers like Agfa, Fujifilm, Heidelberg, Kodak and Screen, but feels strongly that its packaging know-how gives it a leg up in applying technology developed for packaging toward enhancing professional workflows in the commercial print sector.