Miamisburg, OH – As graphic arts continues to be challenging, integrated solutions are increasingly important as a means of making packaging, sign and display, and print more efficient. At Graph Expo 2010, booth 217 - shared with its business unit, Enfocus - EskoArtwork will demonstrate how its Suite 10 portfolio of packaging and print pre-production software can cut costs by integrating not only with products within the suite but also with software products from numerous partners. In addition, EskoArtwork will demonstrate i-cut Suite, a collection of pre-production solutions that streamline the workflow for the large-format digital printing and finishing throughout the entire production process, from prepress to the finished product. EskoArtwork Kongsberg finishing tables and complementary software will be on display at a number of partner booths.

"EskoArtwork has received a terrific response from our customers to both Suite 10 and i-cut Suite. They are both easy to use and provide complete production solutions for virtually any print organization," explains Mark Quinlan, President, EskoArtwork North America. "Meanwhile, we are also fortunate that many of our partners are also demonstrating EskoArtwork solutions at Graph Expo. For example, visitors can stop at the Pitman or Fujifilm booths and see a fully functioning Kongsberg i-XL24 dieless cutting table, visit the HP booth to learn how EskoArtwork Digital Front End tools help drive the HP Indigo, or stop by the Xerox booth to see how the Kongsberg i-XE Auto finishing table completes a digital workflow. Whether a company needs software or finishing tables, there are a number of places where they can EskoArtwork's outstanding products at Graph Expo."

Suite 10: Complete prepress solution
Two principal industry drivers have inspired EskoArtwork's Suite 10. First, packaging converters and commercial printers are in need for "best-in-class" tools to service their customers better. Brand Owners demand top-quality workflow solutions that encourage innovation and provide high throughput and rock-solid quality. In today's highly pressurized market, quality must be a given and errors are unacceptable. Reducing the risk of human errors is built into every aspect of Suite 10 – in the first instance by automating the workflow as much as possible, and secondly by introducing 3D capabilities as QC tools to the workflow.

The second driver is related to the increased globalization and consolidation in the packaging and print industry, leading to larger manufacturing groups. This trend spurred EskoArtwork to adopt a more enterprise-like model for its software.

EskoArtwork's Suite 10 is a major, step-change release of its software solutions for packaging prepress, 3D structural design and quality assurance, collaboration and automation, and color management. Visitors can follow demonstrations of the new Automation Engine 10 and new version 10 releases of all editor applications: ArtPro 10, PackEdge 10, DeskPack 10, ArtiosCAD 10 and Studio 10. The workstation software is more integrated than ever, with Automation Engine 10, adding capabilities to the automation of repetitive tasks, and taking more human interaction out of the prepress production process. This avoids mistakes and saves considerable time and money.

New i-cut Suite production software for large format digital printing and finishing
i-cut Suite is a collection of pre-production software targeted specifically at users of large format digital printers and/or digital finishing systems. The different modules of i-cut Suite provide sign and display companies extraordinary efficiency and productivity, regardless of the type, source and variety of incoming job information. i-cut Suite tackles all bottlenecks in a workflow, from preflighting PDF files, preparing graphics, creating layouts, to printing, and finishing in perfect registration.

"Shops producing large format displays often receive files that have not been properly prepared, often containing errors or missing information," explains Bill Hartman, EskoArtwork vice president of marketing for sign and display solutions. "Without the proper workflow tools, such deficiencies lead to costly losses of time and materials. By using i-cut software, potential issues are caught and resolved at the beginning of the workflow, resulting in a smooth and cost-effective manufacturing process. It's comprised of different modules: i-cut Preflight for efficient PDF preflighting and editing, i-cut Automate for data workflow and i-cut Layout for interactive layout and nesting. For precise and accurate die-less cutting, the i-cut Vision Pro control system is essential."

Committed development based on customer input
A number of influential printing industry partners will be participating with EskoArtwork, showing hardware and software solutions for a diverse range of print applications:
- Agfa/Pitman, booth 844: Pitman, a long time partner and reseller of EskoArtwork hardware and software, will also be demonstrating the Kongsberg i-XL24 dieless cutting table - along with the complete EskoArtwork Suite 10. The Esko Kongsberg i-XL digital finishing system delivers record-breaking productivity and versatility. The table is easy to operate, comes with excellent tools for any application and has an unsurpassed track record for durability. The Kongsberg i-XL comes with tooling specifically for the sign and display market, and offers perfect registration. Visitors can discuss commercial print, packaging, and wide format solutions with EskoArtwork and Agfa/Pitman representatives.
- Fujifilm, booths 627 and 1469: Fujifilm, an EskoArtwork partner particularly for wide format applications, will be showing the Kongsberg i-XL24 dieless cutting table, primarily routing rigid materials. They will also offer information about the i-cut suite.
- Hewlett-Packard Co., booth 1200: EskoArtwork collaborates with HP to support HP Indigo digital label and packaging presses with EskoArtwork Digital Front End tools. This combination has been well received by converters who are making the transition to digital production in a highly competitive market. HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging workflow solutions are powered by EskoArtwork to bring advanced RIP, workflow and color management tools to HP Indigo users.
- Xerox, booths 400/600: Xerox customers use EskoArtwork packaging design and pre-production solutions-particularly ArtiosCAD, DeskPack and Plato-to drive the Xerox iGen3 and Esko Kongsberg dieless cutting table as an end to end printing finishing solution for short-run folding carton packaging applications. On display will be the Kongsberg i-XE Auto finishing table, cutting folding cartons. The Kongsberg i-XE10 Automated works along any small-format to medium-size digital press and to profitably finish a wide range of digitally printed applications up to print-runs of several thousands, depending on design complexity.

"We look forward to seeing the print community at Graph Expo - whether it's at our booth or at one of our partners' locations. EskoArtwork account and support executives are available throughout the hall to answer any questions regarding printing companies' future business and production directions," concludes Quinlan.