Gent (Belgium), August 12, 2008 – Under current difficult economic conditions, it is imperative that new tools and equipment invested by label converters help them remain competitive and profitable, focus on reducing waste and energy, and promote environmental sustainability of manufacturing processes. EskoArtwork's solutions, particularly in collaborative workflows and consultancy programs such as Color For Everyone, can help printers keep their businesses growing and make them more profitable. EskoArtwork's complete portfolio of software and hardware solutions will be on display at Labelexpo Americas 2008 (September 9-11 in Chicago) on booth 5202.

The leading pre-production tools now plug in anywhere

The first public showing of the new, revised version 4 of the Esko Software Suite 7 highlights interoperability between all of EskoArtwork's workflow components. 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. "Visitors will see EskoArtwork's ability to cross-integrate its various workflow lines," comments Carsten Knudsen, President and CEO of EskoArtwork. "Working with cross-departmental system links and collaborating between project stakeholders will be illustrated through live demonstrations-all great new opportunities for increased added value."

Highlighted components include:

NEW - An updated BackStage features 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. The new BackStage Viewer, also part of release 4 of the Esko Software Suite 7, combines different use cases, an extensive set of file formats, and delivers this on Mac and Windows clients. It is targeted for all packaging and label facilities that conduct prepress QA.

NEW – An updated version of ArtPro seamlessly integrates this flagship pre-production editor for labels into the EskoArtwork solution portfolio. ArtPro reads and writes native Esko Normalized PDF files and has support for the ArtiosCAD native format. With the addition of ViewX, the QA tools for flexo plate and print preview have been synchronized between all editing platforms, including ArtPro. With the Visualizer Ink Book now supported in ArtPro, users are able to effortlessly preview finishing and enable layers of label designs in Visualizer. BackStage now integrates ArtPro as a full-featured client with the ability to preview and launch automation tasks on ArtPro native files. Finally, ArtPro now provides access to the complete Esko Screening technology. With all this, ArtPro users see their workstation investments confirmed and get access to a vast portfolio of workflow tools for label design and production.

Studio, introduced at drupa, puts interactive 3D packaging creation in the hands of the designer. A 3D viewing environment lets designers see their artwork 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.

Visualizer 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.

EskoArtwork's well-known benchmark products, including Nexus, the revolutionary Odystar for Labels and its unique Neo editing package-recipient of a 2008 PIA/GATF InterTechTM Technology Award-bring speed and flexibility to label production along with high quality output. Odystar for Labels uses PDF and Certified PDF as its native file format and JDF as its preferred job ticket format for both internal and external workflow communication. Combined with Neo-a 'last-minute' editing tool that gives the operator high-end editing and correction functionality in a native PDF environment-Odystar dramatically reduces the approval and correction cycles.

Prepress specialists can also check out the latest versions of the Enfocus PDF preflighting, editing and certification tools. A reliable data connection between content providers and print professionals was never easier. This includes the Switch solution, which makes Enfocus products even more efficient by automating repetitive tasks and connecting with other key graphic arts applications.

Color for Everyone

Getting color right the first time and every time brings substantial savings across the entire label value chain. At Labelexpo Americas, EskoArtwork shows how color management can be easily and effectively integrated in each step of the workflow, from design to press. On display are end-to-end solutions for proofing and output, complete with expert services. It features Concentric Screening, Equinox-a solution for Extended Gamut Printing-and the Kaleidoscope color management 'engine'.

Digital flexo: a driving force in the production of flexo plates

EskoArtwork and DuPont have been driving the development of digital flexo for more than 10 years, setting the standards in flexo quality and productivity for labels and packaging. The CyrelTM Digital Imager (CDI) Spark 2530 images digital flexo plates up to 25" x 30", a perfect size for tag and label converters. The CDI Spark 2120, a small footprint, entry-level priced CDI, is a dedicated digital flexo solution for smaller narrow web/label trade shops and converters who want to be competitive.

To support flexo plate imaging, EskoArtwork's Digital Flexo Suite for Labels integrates all flexo related devices into a cost-effective solution that simplifies flexo plate room operation: from the digital file to the finished flexo plate, including plate cutting on the Kongsberg table. PlatePrep automatically crops, sorts and arranges labels on a large flexo plate for an efficient and cost-effective plate output-with as little waste as possible. When a plate is filled with labels, it is sent to a CDI flexo plate imager. Concurrently, information about the plate is sent to a Kongsberg cutting table, where the individual label separations are cut automatically. The Kongsberg table not only cuts flexo plates as part of the Digital Flexo Suite for Labels, but also cost-efficiently and swiftly cuts and finishes various label and label-like materials.

Strong partnerships

EskoArtwork continues to benefit from strong, long-term business and technology partnerships with some of the leading vendors in label and packaging production.

Label printers continue to benefit from HP's and EskoArtwork's partnership, as EskoArtwork is the provider of digital front end products as part of an end-to-end HP Indigo digital printing solution for the label, flexible packaging and shrink sleeve industries.

At the DuPont-Pitman booth (#5403), DuPont is demonstrating live a computer-to-plate workflow for flexo using the CDI Spark 2530 and the DuPont CyrelFAST Dry Thermal platemaking workflow. Files for output will be processed using the Digital Flexo Suite for Labels.

"Because of our unparalleled experience working with the label industry, we understand the economic and production issues facing label converters," concludes Carsten Knudsen. "We continue to build on the most complete set of tools for label printers, and explore new ways to design and produce labels to best serve the ultimate customer, the brand owner. With hardware and software solutions that truly shorten the packaging design lifecycle, we continue to be a partner for all members of the supply chain."