Esko (www.esko.com) will show its design to print to cut workflow for sign and display shops at booth 1026 during the International Sign Expo (ISA) 2012, March 22-24, in Orlando, FL. Esko will demonstrate a comprehensive portfolio of end-to-end workflow and digital finishing solutions, featuring the Kongsberg i-XP 24, the Kongsberg i-XL 24, and the Kongsberg i-XE 10 Auto finishing systems. Workstations will offer demonstrations of i-cut Suite, a collection of pre-production tools that streamlines the workflow for digital printer, from prepress to finished product — highlighting automated capabilities offered by i-cut Automate.

i-cut Automate helps automate the i-cut Suite workflow
i-cut Suite lets companies that drive narrow or large format digital printers and/or digital finishing systems professional tools to streamline their workflows — the first offering sign & display shops a complete, integrated solution. Introduced in 2010, i-cut Suite has seen rapid popularity throughout the world.

i-cut Automate, the latest addition to i-cut Suite, ties the pieces of the i-cut Suite together, automating the entire production process from design to print to cut. Users can build dynamic workflows that automate repetitive prepress tasks, thereby enhancing productivity, reducing operator intervention and errors, and saving valuable time, money and materials in the production process.

i-cut Suite components include:
i-cut Preflight handles efficient preflighting and editing of incoming PDF files, ensuring that jobs will RIP and print correctly. It also lets users make any corrections working within the PDF file.

i-cut Layout is a module to interactively build and edit sheet layouts, ensuring that jobs make the optimum use of the substrate through intelligent true shape nesting and tiling. It also enables file preparation for printing through adding grommet marks, and creating cut paths and bleeds.

i-cut Vision Pro makes sure that die-less cutting contours match printed images perfectly. Often, slight distortions between printed graphics and contour cuts may cause unacceptable results. i-cut Vision Pro registers the actual dimensions and positions on the printed result. Then, finishing is adapted to the shape of the graphics.

With i-cut Automate, all of these functions are automated in a single workflow, with less operator intervention and fewer potential manual errors. Through Mac or PC based clients, operators can easily monitor the workflow and interact when necessary through a comprehensive checkpoint. Repetitive tasks are far less time-consuming through dynamic workflows that are easy to set up and operate in a client-server environment. i-cut Automate can also be integrated with Management Information Systems, enabling automatic job creation and the submission of job workflow parameters.

Users with more specific requirements can easily add supplementary modules: a structural design module to allow integration with all standard structural design programs; a graphics preparation module to create the cutting contour on both vector files and images; and a true shape nesting module offering a powerful, true shape nesting solution, particularly for irregular shapes.

ArtiosCAD: Design structure to 3D projects
For 3D projects, not only do you need graphic design software, but structural design software, as well. ArtiosCAD is the world’s most popular and advanced structural design software for signs and displays. With tools for display professionals, product design and development, virtual prototyping and manufacturing, ArtiosCAD increases productivity throughout the company and supply chain.

Intelligent drafting tools and smart standards save design time and reduce errors. Users browsing a POP library can find parametric design templates from which to either design POP displays in minutes — with the freedom to resize or redesign components — or stimulate the creative design process. ArtiosCAD can significantly help sign and display shops do an exceptional job creating structures for 3D displays.

The Kongsberg i-XP24: the world’s fastest digital finishing system
The Kongsberg i-XP 24, the world’s fastest digital finishing system helps turn short-run POP / POS displays, signage and many other applications into profitable, value added jobs. It provides a fast, flexible and highly reliable solution for short run production, letting sign and display shops offer their customers on-demand production with just-in-time delivery. With a maximum working area of 87”x126” and a maximum speed of 66” inches per second (ips), the i-XP can convert a wide range of board, sheet and roll materials. Demonstrated at ISA is an optional conveyor extension that can work with rolls or sheets/boards with an Auto-Feeder system to load material to the cutting table. 

Kongsberg i-XL 24: Perfect for signs and displays
The Kongsberg i-XL 24 is the workhorse of the product line and best-selling Kongsberg finishing system among sign and display companies. It offers a comprehensive finishing solution for the widest range of materials, providing automation, high productivity and outstanding precision. The i-XL family, with a maximum material size of 87” x 120”, can also be delivered with an optional conveyor extension, along with the Auto-Feeder.

Esko partner Agfa Corporation (booth 1036) will also exhibit the Kongsberg i-XL24 finishing system.

Kongsberg i-XE 10 Auto digital finishing system
At ISA, the Kongsberg i-XE 10 Auto is equipped with a fully automated sheet feeder and off load stacker, specifically designed for finishing small-format, prototype, sample and short-run digital printed materials – rolls or sheets can be processed. The sheet feeder system automatically loads and places printed materials on the table. The ‘Pick and Place’ automated stacker enables non-stop sorting, neatly stacking finished pieces, separating waste from finished items. As a result, the machine can run virtually unattended. The Kongsberg i-XE10 can handle a maximum sheet size of 35” x 47” at a maximum speed of 52.5 ips.

“We are challenging sign and display printers to become more creative with their project work. In doing so, they can escape the square foot pricing model by adding value — and margins — with a broader range of substrates, contoured graphics and 3D capabilities,” comments Bill Hartman, Esko Vice President Business Development, Digital Finishing Solutions. “In addition, exciting opportunities — and efficiencies — are available to companies from workflow systems that automate the designing, printing and cutting steps. And, a starter system needn’t break the bank, nor disrupt the production process.  On the contrary, they can add exceptional productivity efficiencies, from the designer’s workstation all the way through to the finishing table. It gets even better with the option to fully automate the process. The future for workflows in sign and display companies is certainly gaining momentum.”

For more information about Esko Sign & Display products, please visit http://www.esko.com/SignandDisplay