Gent (Belgium) - EskoArtwork is presenting its market-leading solutions for labels and tags at Labelexpo Europe, taking place in Brussels, September 23 through 26, 2009. EskoArtwork offers design and prepress solutions for all label and tag printing processes, including digital printing, offset, gravure, flexo and screen. The EskoArtwork stand is located in Hall 5, Stand 5B30. In addition, EskoArtwork is participating in the Digital Experience, Hall 9 (Stand 9F100), new at Labelexpo Europe this year.

"Labelexpo Europe is always a terrific event for us," says Armand Gougay, EskoArtwork Vice President Emeala. "Worldwide label professionals that come looking for solutions to cut cost, time and errors out of their label design and production processes will find in EskoArtwork a partner with innovative solutions that span the entire label pre-production process. The EskoArtwork presence at Labelexpo Europe certainly demonstrates that when it comes to narrow web solutions, EskoArtwork is definitely not narrow-minded."
Platform 10: the next phase of the EskoArtwork Software roadmap
With Platform 10, EskoArtwork introduces significant new capabilities which reduce cost in the packaging and print value chain and protects it's customer investments.

Platform 10 features five powerful software "engines" which, in combination with the rich set of EskoArtwork tools for prepress, CAD, packaging design and color management, provide a complete platform to support and enhance productivity in the packaging and print value chain. These engines are:
    •    Automation Engine 10 (Scalable workflow automation and job management software)
    •    Color Engine 10: (Centralized color management server and database)
    •    Imaging Engine 10: (consistent, high performance, top quality output across all types of imaging and print devices).
    •    Collaboration Engine 10: (Internet-based platform enabling collaboration, online review and approval, as well as project and data management).
    •    Dynamic Content Engine 10: (Collaboration and content management for critical packaging design content)
Upgrades of the well known EskoArtwork tools for graphic and structural design, prepress, and proofing will be fully integrated with these engines. Communication and integration between the EskoArtwork engines and tools themselves as well as connecting with third party business applications is flexible and transparent.

EskoArtwork Digital Flexo: a driving force in the production of quality labels
EskoArtwork presents its range of leading and innovative digital flexo solutions at Labelexpo. HD Flexo, introduced to the market earlier this year, combines 4000 dpi optics with proven screening technology to deliver exceptional flexo print quality in a simple, straightforward manner. Since the launch, EskoArtwork has had an impressive customer response and visitors to the EskoArtwork stand can view samples that unequivocally demonstrate why users of the technology are raving about the exceptional quality they have been able to achieve.

Two members of the CDI family will be on display at Labelexpo: the new CDI Spark 1712 and the CDI Spark 2530, EskoArtwork's popular CDI model for label printers.
    •    The CDI Spark 1712 will be presented for the first time in Europe at Labelexpo. The CDI Spark 1712 is a small footprint, cost-effective flexo plate and film imager specifically for narrow web tag and label printers. It images a full size 420 x 300mm (16.5" x 11.8") plate of arbitrary thickness in 9 minutes 30 seconds. The CDI Spark 1712, along with the entire CDI family, is one of the most versatile imagers available, able to image digital flexo plates, foil-based digital letterpress plates, digital silkscreens, chemistry-free film and offset plates.
    •    The CDI Spark 2530 is ideal for tag, label and folding carton manufacturers as well as small volume flexo plate producers. The CDI Spark 2530 images digital flexo plates up to 635 x 762mm (25" x 30"). It also comes with an incorporated plate loading table and an EasyClamp II drum for easier and faster plate loading. The CDI Spark 2530 now includes inline UV exposure and a metal drum specifically suited for letterpress.
    
"Visitors to the EskoArtwork stand will see an amazing array of recent innovations affecting the flexographic manufacturing process," explains Dr. Thomas Klein, EskoArtwork R&D Manager, Flexo Business. "Intelligent front ends and the Digital Flexo Suite streamline and shorten the process of making digital flexo plates. Inline UV main exposure and HD Flexo technology improve quality and consistency. These innovations reflect EskoArtwork's dedication to delivering best-in-class solutions to the label and tag market."

Color for Everyone
Getting color right the first time and every time delivers substantial savings across the entire label value chain. At Labelexpo, EskoArtwork will demonstrate how color management can be easily and effectively integrated into every step of the workflow. On display will be end-to-end solutions for design, pre-press, proofing and output, complete with expert services. EskoArtwork color management demonstrations will feature Equinox (a solution for extended gamut printing), the Kaleidoscope color engine and FlexProof/E with Proof Verification. With these solutions, label and tag manufacturers can ensure brand integrity for their customers, with color consistency from design through proofing and printing across all printing technologies from gravure to flexo to litho to digital.

Design Tools
Studio puts interactive 3D label creation in the hands of the designer. A 3D environment integrated into Adobe Illustrator lets designers see their designs applied instantly on 3D packaging shapes. Studio significantly enhances design productivity, reduces the number of mock-ups, ensures that design errors are spotted more quickly, and eliminates the need for 2D flats, thus reducing costs. At Labelexpo Europe, EskoArtwork releases Studio Toolkit for Shrink Sleeves, a brand-new application that accommodates asymmetric shapes and multi-packs in 3D from start to finish.

Visualizer generates hyper-realistic on-screen mock-ups of label designs including special effects such as embossing, foils, and special finishes. Dynamic Content for Adobe Illustrator enables designers to establish dynamic links to brand owners' label content such as text, bar codes, and ingredient tables, ensuring that design agencies and pre-press suppliers are working with the most up-to-date version. The newly introduced Dynamic Content Engine provides a collaboration and management environment for storing and maintaining label copy and content.

Innovative Prepress Solutions
EskoArtwork trapping technology is second to none. Understanding of the printing sequence, knowledge of opacity level of inks and insight into special techniques like reverse printing and reverse trapping have resulted in an array of trapping solutions to prepare label designs for top-quality printing. At Labelexpo, EskoArtwork releases the new DeskPack Instant Trapper for Adobe Illustrator, a real time intelligent interactive trapping tool to produce high quality, predictable trapping. In a very intuitive manner DeskPack Instant Trapper allows prepress professionals to judge and trap color scenarios independently, offering a new level of flexibility.

Also new at Labelexpo is the updated version of EskoArtwork's' most popular prepress editor, ArtPro 9.5. Based on input from thousands of professional users, ArtPro 9.5 is now even easier to use, combining an updated user interface with new features that increase productivity.

Further integration of ArtPro, the flagship product for label editing, with EskoArtwork's complete workflow portfolio has been a priority for the ArtPro 9.5 release. ArtPro 9.5 reads and writes native Esko Normalized PDF files and supports ArtiosCAD "intelligent dieline" (ARD) files, as well as the new Studio Toolkit's native formats. With the Visualizer Ink Books, , users are able to effortlessly preview finishing and enable layers of label designs in Visualizer, showing photo-realistic 3D mock-ups and dynamic print visualizations.

Variable Data Printing for digital labels
The EskoArtwork Variable Data Printing Module expands EskoArtwork's capabilities in digital printing for HP Indigo industrial presses. This software module was developed specifically to be the first variable data printing solution to fulfill the requirements of labels and packaging markets and is based on EskoArtwork's extensive experience in this domain. The application uses one-up files from Adobe Illustrator or PackEdge, and focuses on variable barcodes, formatted texts and images.

Strong Partnerships
"We are also pleased to be partnering with other industry leaders at Labelexpo Europe," adds Armand Gougay. "These include HP, ExxonMobil Chemical, Sun Chemical, EFI and more. These partnerships enhance EskoArtwork's already strong position in the label and tag industry, especially with respect to workflow automation and digital printing. This adds significant value for the customers of EskoArtwork and our partners."

Label printers continue to benefit from EskoArtwork's partnership with HP which has resulted in a digital front end powered by EskoArtwork as part of an end-to-end HP Indigo digital printing solution for the label, flexible packaging and shrink sleeve industries. EskoArtwork and HP joint solutions can be seen on both the HP and EskoArtwork stands.

EskoArtwork and Sun Chemical will demonstrate how EskoArtwork color management software downloads full spectral ink profile information directly from the Sun Chemical SmartColour database of ink readings. This solution saves time and money for label converters by eliminating the need to fingerprint production presses for accurate color.

"EskoArtwork is committed to providing the most comprehensive set of solutions for the label and tag industry, addressing the economic and production challenges facing label and tag converters," says Carsten Knudsen, EskoArtwork's CEO. "We also understand the importance of incorporating partner products and services into the mix in order to provide best-in-class solutions that reduce cost, shorten the packaging design lifecycle, and improve the ability of tag and label converters to collaborate with brand owners. Visitors to our stands and those of our partners will see this dedication in action at Labelexpo Europe."