Gent (Belgium) – EskoArtwork, the worldwide market leader providing innovative solutions for packaging, commercial printing, professional publishing and sign and display, shared a next level of detail for its software roadmap at Labelexpo Europe.

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 brings best-in-the-industry tools, a scalable, easy-to-use and easy-to-maintain production solution with demonstrable return on investment to the industries we serve." says Arjen Maarleveld, Senior VP Products. "We focus on a smooth transition and upgrade path, making sure our customers processes will not be disrupted and their investments are protected, while adding significant new functionality."

Platform 10 features five powerful software "engines" in combination with a rich set of EskoArtwork tools. In the Platform 10 vocabulary, "tools" are the desktop applications for prepress, CAD, packaging design and color management that operators use on a daily basis to prepare jobs for print. On the other hand, "engines" are server applications which execute a wide range of automation tasks in the background. Engines and tools combined provide a complete platform to support and enhance productivity in the packaging and print value chain. The Platform 10 engines are:
    •    Automation Engine 10: Scalable workflow automation and job management software with an innovative and intuitive user interface, supporting small single site operations as well as multi-site, multi-plant global production operations.
    •    Color Engine 10: Centralized color management server and database with patented spectral profile technology and unique capabilities for spot color handling, providing integrated and consistent color management from the design to final print.
    •    Imaging Engine 10: Providing consistent, high performance, top quality output across all types of imaging and print devices, both conventional and digital.
    •    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, including text, bar codes, and nutrition tables.
    
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.

Serving all packaging and print segments
According to Maarleveld, Platform 10 helps trade shops, packaging and label converters, brand execution companies, packaging designers, sign & display producers, and commercial printers to meet their customers' needs even more efficiently than before, while driving cost out of their internal processes. Platform 10 reduces customers' total cost of ownership by introducing a single integrated architecture with a broad selection of engines and tools which allow customers to exactly match their requirements.

EskoArtwork: one company, one platform!
"Platform 10 has been designed with the needs of our customers foremost in mind," Maarleveld points out, "For example, Automation Engine brings together the easy-to-learn user interface of Odystar with the ArtPro automation tools of Nexus and the job and data management strengths of BackStage, allowing customers to quickly and easily migrate to a powerful, easy-to-use, easy-to-install and support workflow environment, scaled to match individual production requirements." Together with Imaging Engine and Color Engine, Automation Engine is a state-of-the-art solution for packaging and print. All of the engines require an Intel based computer to run on, but for all interaction with the workflow, both Mac and PC are supported. The customer decides about the type of workstation for almost all interactive tasks, Mac or PC. This way, configurations can be matched easily to the available IT support resources and capacity requirements.

ArtiosCAD 10, designed for structural design and manufacturing, has updated project and data management capabilities on board, accompanied by the ability to edit PDF graphics and a host of new features for Manufacturing and Blanking. Studio 10 is EskoArtwork's software offering for packaging designers. Studio brings an impressive array of 3D design tools for boxes, labels, cans, tins, bottles, pouches, flexible bags and shrink sleeves within reach of the designer, seamlessly integrated with Adobe Illustrator. A database of primary packaging shapes and components can be accessed over the internet. Download a shape into Studio or DeskPack 10 and preview your packaging or label designs in 3D. ArtPro 10 and PackEdge 10/Plato 10 embed powerful 3D capabilities in the prepress editing workflow. FastImpose 10 remains EskoArtwork's flagship product for professional commercial print imposition, now available in both standalone and automated versions. FlexProof 10 drives the digital inkjet proofer of your choice for color accurate digital proofing of both CMYK and sophisticated multi-color and spot color output.

Release and Migration timeline
The introduction of Platform 10 is not a single event, but rather a milestone that marks the next phase of a journey with products and technologies that will be rolled out over the next years.

The first engines and tools under the Platform 10 brand will become available to new customers early in 2010, with beta versions available starting in the fourth quarter of 2009. Simultaneously, EskoArtwork will launch various migration programs to ensure a smooth transition to Platform 10 for current customers. Customers with maintenance contracts will be able to upgrade to Platform 10 on the basis of like-for-like functionality. Details of these upgrade options will become available in the coming months. Platform 10 is supported by EskoArtwork's world class customer support and training teams, as well as Systems Integration and Professional Consulting services.

"By introducing Platform 10," concludes Maarleveld, "we want to provide our current customers, as well as companies considering an investment in EskoArtwork software, a clear roadmap to the future for our software solutions. When we initially shared this strategy with attendees at the EskoArtwork World User Conference in May 2009, user response was very encouraging, and we are excited to now communicate this roadmap to a wider audience."

At the EskoArtwork booth at Labelexpo Europe (Hall 5, stand 5B30) in Brussels, September 23 – 26, visitors can experience live preview demonstrations of Platform 10 engines and tools.