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Agfa to Sell Esko-Graphics Products for Package Printing

Press release from the issuing company

Mortsel, Belgium – 22 June 2005 – Agfa and Esko-Graphics announced today that the companies have entered into a global reseller agreement which allows Agfa to sell Esko-Graphics DeskPack and Plato pre-press software to the packaging market. This agreement will allow Agfa to add file creation applications to its prepress portfolio for packaging printers. Esko-Graphics' popular DeskPack range of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop and the Plato step&repeat/nesting system, lets Agfa offer a more complete workflow solution-from file creation through production. "DeskPack and Plato are two excellent extensions to our offering in offset packaging production. They are high-quality components which perfectly complement our :ApogeeX workflow system. The partnership between Esko-Graphics and Agfa proves our firm commitment to be a true packaging integration partner for our customers," said Agfa's Kris Vangeel, director of packaging business, worldwide. "Agfa's choice to offer DeskPack and Plato is a recognition of Esko-Graphics' leadership position in packaging software. This reseller agreement opens up additional distribution possibilities into the offset packaging market where Agfa is a leading player with its CtP solutions," said Esko-Graphics' René Delbar, senior vice president of marketing. The global reseller agreement was already operational in the UK and in Spain, where first results indicate that packaging customers are ready to grasp the benefits of this combined offering. It is currently being implemented across Europe, Asia and Australia. Agfa and Esko-Graphics are dedicated to the implementation of products based on JDF/PDF standards in the packaging arena. With this agreement Agfa and Esko-Graphics complement each other's strengths and add to industry standardisation based on best-in-class software components. Close co-operation on their complementary workflow components fits into the mutual goal of offering a complete JDF-based workflow solution for the packaging industry.