Booth 2081 also features the i-cut Theater, providing overviews of the i-cut Suite wide format workflow - a 2012 InterTech Technology Award recipient - and Studio 12

At SGIA Expo 2012, October 18-20, in Las Vegas, Esko (www.esko.com) will demonstrate a comprehensive portfolio of end-to-end print to cut workflows for sign and display shops from prepress to finished product including six Kongsberg tables on the show floor, i-cut Suite - a 2012 InterTech Technology Award recipient - and the new Kongsberg XN 24 finishing system, introduced earlier this year at drupa.

At the center of the booth will be the i-cut Theater, offering high-level presentations of value to decision makers, with subjects such as the economic value of workflows and MIS integration. Helpful for a wide SGIA audience, presentations will be provided in English and Spanish.

During SGIA, other recently launched solutions of value to sign & display shops will be demonstrated, as well as a wide variety of Kongsberg tables.

i-cut Suite, InterTech Technology Award recipient, highlights focus on wide format
i-cut Suite lets companies that drive narrow or large format digital printers and/or digital finishing systems to streamline their workflows. 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.

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.

With i-cut Automate, all of these functions are automated in a single workflow, with less operator intervention and fewer potential manual errors.

Software that makes structural and graphic designs easier
In an industry that is becoming more commoditized, sign and display shops are realizing that the uniqueness of 3D display projects offers higher margins. More and more companies are investing in ArtiosCAD for structural design. ArtiosCAD 12 brings customers many time-saving features. Its extensive library of resizable display designs helps designers so that they do not have to start from scratch designing new displays. The ArtiosCAD Tab & Slot tool 'assembles' components of a display with just a few clicks. The Mate tool helps to build and visualize connected folds and multiple parts. Users can identify glue areas and corresponding targets to quickly connect designs or perform simple assembly of displays. Support for thicker materials such as papercore-board, along with correctly designing V-notches and edge bands make it easier to visualize and convert designs of this material.

ArtiosCAD is available in two versions: the standard version and ArtiosCAD 12 Enterprise, enabling global "cloud" sharing and collaboration with WebCenter 12. All assets are centralized in a corporate private cloud, a secure web-accessible database enabling dynamic online collaboration between design groups, CAD and graphic designers, suppliers, brand owners and production.

Why work in a flat world if displays aren't? Studio 12 is a unique set of tools for 3D structural design made specifically for display artwork professionals. Studio helps produce better artwork, by allowing users to virtually view 3D displays and rotate them a complete view. Studio also lets companies create exciting 3D visuals to show to clients, ranging from PDF files with 3D content to movies.

New: Kongsberg XN provides power and flexibility for any sign & display application
Three Kongsberg tables will be shown on the Esko booth. The Kongsberg XN is easily the most versatile digital finishing device ever introduced. Working with just about any material from vinyls to boards to wood, the Kongsberg XN is perfect for any job or application. It is available in seven different sizes from 66" x 50" to 87" x 258".

The Kongsberg XN can be easily configured for the widest range of applications: from kiss-cutting to heavy-duty milling. Most important, the new Kongsberg XN can be equipped with its very powerful, optional 3kW, water-cooled milling spindle, the MultiCUT- HP. With this new high-powered tool head, the Kongsberg XN offers up to three times more milling productivity. Even when processing the most challenging materials, it keeps a productive, consistent speed. With the power-saving variable vacuum hold-down technology, it also consumes less energy.

A choice of five tool heads and a full assortment of insert tools guarantee versatility. Newly developed tools include solid board and corrugated paper-core board v-notching inserts. The Kongsberg XN offers a variety of proven options including help with registration with i-cut Vision Pro, tool heads and tool inserts to extend flexibility, productivity add-ons like a material conveyor, an AutoFeeder or a Roll-Off unit.

The Kongsberg XP24: the world's fastest digital finishing system
Also on display at SGIA is the Kongsberg XP24, the world's fastest digital finishing system. The XP helps turn short-run POP / POS displays work into profitable, value added jobs, helping 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, the XP series can convert a wide range of board, sheet and roll materials.

Kongsberg i-XE 10 Auto digital finishing system
At SGIA, 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. The system also automatically separates waste from the finished items. The Kongsberg i-XE10 Auto opens opportunities for creative, new applications with irregular shapes or finishing structures. It can handle a maximum sheet size of 35" x 47".

Esko partners demonstrating finishing systems and software throughout SGIA
Three additional Kongsberg finishing tables and workflows will be on display at partner booths around the SGIA show floor. Esko partners Agfa Graphics (booth 2059), HP (booth 2035) and xpedx (booth 2481 will all demonstrate complete print and finishing solutions. Agfa Graphics and xpedx will both exhibit the Kongsberg XN24 with an i-cut Vision system, while HP will operate the KongsbergXP24 with an i-cut Vision system.

"Esko continues to create solutions to help sign and display companies to build profitable businesses. One of the best ways we believe is by offering 3D capabilities," comments Bill Hartman, Esko Vice President, Sign & Display Solutions. "Exciting opportunities are available for companies wiling to invest in workflow systems that offer some of the designing, printing and cutting steps that are unique to Esko. i-cut Suite, the Kongsberg XN finishing table, and ArtiosCAD 12 are the most recent examples that demonstrate that jobs don't end with printing - there is a lot of benefit to building powerful structural design and finishing departments. We look forward to showing SGIA attendees - both at our i-cut Theater and throughout our finishing table and software demos - significant tools to differentiate themselves in the market.

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