Integrated Solutions from EskoArtwork at Graph Expo

MIAMISBURG, Ohio—Integrated solutions are increasingly important as a means of making packaging, sign and display, and print more efficient. At Graph Expo 2010, EskoArtwork demonstrated 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 demonstrated its 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 were displayed 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.”

Suite 10: Complete prepress solution

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. At Graph Expo, visitors could 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 highly integrated, 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.

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.”

Partner applications

A number of printing industry partners showed hardware and software solutions for a diverse range of print applications:
• Agfa/Pitman—Pitman, a long time partner and reseller of EskoArtwork hardware and software, demonstrated the Kongsberg i-XL24 dieless cutting table, along with the complete EskoArtwork Suite 10.
• Fujifilm—Fujifilm, an EskoArtwork partner particularly for wide-format applications, showed the Kongsberg i-XL24 dieless cutting table, primarily routing rigid materials.
• Hewlett-Packard Co.—EskoArtwork collaborates with HP to support HP Indigo digital label and packaging presses with EskoArtwork Digital Front End tools. 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—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. The Kongsberg i-XE Auto finishing table was on display, cutting folding cartons.