Miamisburg, OH – As brand owners become intimately involved in the packaging supply chain, Esko tools continue to be helpful resources. At booth S-8076 during PACK EXPO International, September 28-30 in Las Vegas, Esko will demonstrate a number of its design and production tools for brand owners and package designers. Esko tools allow brand owners to design and create better packaging, and participate more actively in the packaging supply chain. Esko Suite 14.1 will be featured along with four popular components: ArtiosCAD structural and Studio 3D graphic design tools, WebCenter collaborative tools, and Media Beacon asset management. Esko will also demonstrate customer files that were created by Target and Fitbit using Esko tools, while participating with partners VideoJet and Clemson to offer an opportunity to receive a Fitbit or Target gift card.

PACK EXPO and Pharma EXPO 2015 will help manufacturers from more than 40 market segments capitalize on current growth by providing access to the latest solutions for enhancing the efficiency, flexibility, automation, sustainability and productivity of their supply chains. The event, bolstered by optimistic reports on the U.S. manufacturing sector, will show processing and packaging innovations to 30,000 attendees in over 800,000 net square feet of exhibit space.

“Globally, the vast majority of packaging is touched by at least one Esko solution. Our products impact both printers and, upstream, brand owners and package designers within the supply chain. We strongly believe that a visit to the Esko booth will not only help brand owners to create more impactful packaging, but do so in the most efficient way,” explains Jon Giardina, Esko President, Americas.

All forms of packaging demonstrated at PACK EXPO

Producing packaging is becoming more and more a global enterprise. Esko integrates brand management software, brand solutions and packaging solutions that allow brands to leverage the power of their supply chains, while Esko's packaging design software enables true packaging innovation.

Suite 14.1 software portfolio offers new ways to develop packaging

Suite 14.1 is an update of the world’s most complete collection of preproduction software tools for packaging, signage and display production. It supports and manages the packaging and print processes for brand owners, retailers, designers, packaging manufacturers and print service providers. While the wide range of design, prepress and workflow applications will be on display, Esko will focus on a number of solutions for the design of packaging:

Visualizer Illustrator

Studio is a fast and easy way to turn ideas into beautiful 3D images for creative development or to impress a client. There is no more need to produce physical mock-ups all the time. Users have an accurate and technically correct package on the screen. While conventional mock-ups may be required, with Studio virtual mock-ups are faster and cheaper for initial design reviews. Visualizer adds the finishing touch, with its patented dynamic print visualization that shows a wide range of substrates, printing and finishing effects in real-time. The Studio Store Visualizer (developed by VTales graphics) allows brand owners to view and interact with packaging in a virtual retail environment. They can see their new designs on the shelf next to the competition, presenting the complete product launch in 3D, including retail-ready packaging, displays and other branded items.

ArtiosCAD is the world’s most popular structural design software for packaging design. With dedicated tools specifically designed for packaging professionals for structural design, product development, virtual prototyping and manufacturing, ArtiosCAD increases productivity throughout a company. ArtiosCAD is ideal for all corrugated, folding carton and POP, POS, FSDU display designers.

Even in today’s digital world, the majority of packaging teams work with traditional methods of communication, such as phone, email and ftp. This way of working leaves little room for innovation and typically adds time to the process through lack of visibility into critical paths. It’s also very hard to track the project’s status within the many outsourced suppliers in the process. WebCenter connects all stakeholders in the process and brings clarity to this process with a centralized project management and communication system.

For the first time at PACK EXPO, Esko will be demonstrating MediaBeacon. In March, Esko announced the acquisition of MediaBeacon Inc., a leader in digital asset management (DAM) software solutions. Increasing pressure on error-free and timely production of brand expressions across a diverse media range—including packaging, in-store displays and online and printed advertising—turns an integrated DAM solution into a cornerstone for both print service providers and brand owners. MediaBeacon's intuitive and highly personalized widget-based solutions allow organizations to find, organize, convert, track, and distribute digital media across the enterprise and globally.

Visit three partner booths and qualify for a drawing

During PACK EXPO Esko is partnering with VideoJet Technologies and Clemson. Visitors who have a participating card stamped by Esko, VideoJet and Clemson will qualify to enter a drawing for a Target gift card or Fitbit fitness product.

Clemson (booth S-7008) will be describing CUShop, the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphic's state-of-the-art consumer experience lab. Brand owners can "See What Your Customers See" in a shopping environment using the latest in eye-tracking technology. CUshop contains eye-tracking equipment and resources to aid researchers in better understanding consumer purchasing decisions.

VideoJet Technologies (booth C-1841) is a world-leader in the product identification market, providing in-line printing, coding, and marking products, application specific fluids, and product life cycle services. At PACK EXPO they will be demonstrating their new Videojet 1560/1660 continuous inkjet printer featuring Long Life Core™ technology, along with explaining its Videojet Remote Service, offering expertise to help keep printers up and running with email alerts, performance dashboards and remote recovery assistance designed to speed response time and line recovery.

“At PACK EXPO, our brand management solutions team is available to demonstrate how companies are utilizing Esko design and communication tools to help make their packaging more powerful on the shelf—while reducing time to market and development costs,” concludes Giardina. "They will also benefit from a visit with our Danaher sister company, VideoJet, and our educational partner, Clemson University."