Artwork Systems

GENT, Belgium—At a press conference held in conjunction with its annual users group meetings in Orlando, Fla.—The Association of Esko-Graphics Users (AEG) and The AriosCAD Users Group International (AUGI)—Esko announced it had completed the acquisition of Stonecube Ltd., a developer of dynamic print visualization software, for an undisclosed amount. At the same time, Esko announced the first product resulting from their joint development efforts, Esko Visualizer. Founded in January 2002 and located near Bristol, U.K., Stonecube has been developing interactive 3D software applications for photorealistic and interactive visualization of special inks and finishes in print applications. The technology shows the resulting effects from various

GENT, Belgium—Esko announced it has completed the acquisition of Stonecube Ltd., a leading developer of print visualization software, for an undisclosed amount. At the same time the two companies announce Esko Visualizer, the first product resulting from their joint development efforts. Founded in January 2002 and located near Bristol, U.K., Stonecube has been developing innovative, interactive 3D software applications for photorealistic and interactive visualization of special inks and finishes in print applications. The technology shows the resulting effects from various paper grades and other substrates, all kinds of inks including metallics, and decorative finishes such as varnishes, foils, embossing, glitter and flitter. Target applications

What hath computer-to-plate (CTP) wrought? Consider “in-the-round” imaging or ITR. The term refers to digitally imaged, continuous polymer printing sleeves that arguably are the future of flexography, and that already are opening up a number of attractive opportunities to printers and end users. Flexo sleeves not only work well with less expensive substrates, such as tissue, napkins, and paper towels, but provide excellent lay-down of solid and metallic inks. Advances in flexo sleeve technology are yielding similar opportunities in markets traditionally dominated by other processes—paper or foil gift-wrap (rubber flexo or gravure), folding cartons (offset or gravure), and shrink sleeves (gravure). In compiling

GENT, Belgium & THAL, Switzerland—Esko and Sefar today announced that Sefar has become a worldwide distributor for selected components of Esko Software Suite 7, to be integrated into Sefar’s end-to-end solution for the screen printing industry. Under the agreement signed between the companies, Esko FlexRip and associated screening software will complement the Sefar Laser Direct Screen system (LDS) to produce screen printing stencils. SEFARLDS is targeted at printers of optical discs and at similar small and medium format applications such as printing onto labels, cartridges and solid objects. “Being the market leader of mesh materials to the screen printing industry, we have teamed up

ENCINO, Calif. and GHENT, Belgium—Dimensional Impressions, developer of the popular Score! portfolio of CAD applications, will become known as Artwork Systems CAD Solutions effective immediately, the companies announced today. Artwork Systems’ Chairman of the Board Guido Van der Schueren, says the name change reflects tighter integration of resources among Artwork Systems companies. Artwork Systems’ sophisticated knowledge of digital design and processing technologies for packaging and graphic arts is core to all three of its businesses: Artwork Systems, Enfocus, and Artwork Systems CAD Solutions. As a result, all three can leverage the overlapping, foundational technology strengths the companies have become known for, and additionally share

GENT, Belgium—Esko, a leading global system integrator for packaging pre-production, reports a strong performance over 2006, its first complete year under Axcel ownership. Audited consolidated revenues for the full year amounted to 127.0 million euro, an increase of 9 percent over 2005. EBITDA for the full year ended at 13.6 million euro, a 74 percent improvement over 2005. Packaging revenues increased by 11 percent compared to the previous year, and sales of new packaging systems (excluding services) grew by 16 percent. Overall service revenue went up by 3 percent despite a declining contribution from maintenance of discontinued CtF and CtP equipment. “We are very

NEW DEHLI, India—Label Summit India 2007, which took place this month in New Delhi was a great success with 492 delegates attending the high-level conference to learn about the key factors stimulating growth in the Indian label industry both in the short and the long term. With the current retail market in India worth $300 billion and the demand for consumer products and luxury goods increasing by 15 percent every year, the Summit provided the ideal gathering for label industry professionals from India and beyond to gain in-depth insights into these developments. A panel of senior representatives from brand owner organizations such as GlaxoSmithKline,

CINCINNATI, Ohio—Phototype, a leader in packaging lifecycle management for many of the world’s most recognized brands, announces the installation of two Esko-Graphics Advance flexo plate setters. The CDI Advance 5080 has a large exposure size (50in. x 80in.), and features advanced multi-beam fiber laser optics with a record imaging speed of up to 8.0 m2/hr., effectively matching the fastest plate processing equipment in the industry. The enhanced quality and increased productivity of these bigger, faster plate setters will allow Phototype to respond to an uptake in print tool sales to converters and manufacturers of consumer packaged goods. Bill Hounshell, Phototype’s VP of printing services

“All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas/Layin’ in the sun,/Talkin’ ‘bout the things/They woulda coulda shoulda done….” The beloved Shel Silverstein poem is a cautionary tale for flexographic trade shops still on the fence about implementing a digital plate workflow. Said to eliminate many of the variables associated with its analog counterpart, digital flexographic platemaking has matured, and a growing number of trade shops and their customers are wondering why it took them so long to “come around.” NPP Packaging Graphics Specialists is one such company. Although the $7 million, Indianapolis-based prepress house serving the corrugated, wide and narrow web, and tag and label markets has had digital

GENT, Belgium—Artwork Systems Group announced that it will evaluate its strategic options for the future of the company, after its first quarter 2007 financial revenues decreased by 7.18 percent from the first quarter of 2006. Consolidated revenues for the quarter amounted to 11.15 million euro, compared to 12.01 million euro in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006, and net income amounted to 2.55 million euro, a decrease of 23.55 percent compared to 3.34 million. The company’s board of directors has mandated ING Corporate Finance to review all strategic options, such as a capital restructuring, a partnership, and/or a sale to a strategic partner.