Esko feeds

Industry leaders embrace HDFlexo

webmaster@esko.com (Esko) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:39:00 +0100

Gent (Belgium), January 2012 – Esko is enjoying ‘exponential’ growth in the number of HD Flexo Certified customers, partners and vendors as industry leaders increasingly recognize the impact this innovative process can have on the success of their businesses.

“Customers are finding HD Flexo certification makes a big difference,” says Jan Buchweitz, Senior Product Manager Digital Flexo at Esko. “They want trusted solutions. They want to know that certified components will all work perfectly together, whether they are printing machines, ink or tape. They also want advice from providers that clearly understand exactly how HD Flexo delivers an improved print performance and how individual providers can best leverage this capability within their operations.”

HD Flexo certification process

The introduction of HD Flexo into the daily production environment is much smoother when trade shops and printers are using HD Flexo certified components. For vendors, partners and customers wishing to take advantage of the certification program, a rigorous process requires that different print samples from five different commercial jobs be printed consistently. Once certified, renewals at regular intervals are encouraged to ensure that print quality is maintained and in line with market developments. Vendors also need to certify each product individually, but once the initial certification has been obtained, subsequent applications are faster and easier. By the end of 2011, Esko could welcome 95 HD Flexo Certified customers, 60 HD Flexo Certified partners and 10 HD Flexo Certified vendors. Many more companies are currently undergoing the application process.

“The achievement of higher quality requires compliance with specific standards,” comments Buchweitz, “and it is only if you follow these that you get the consistency and predictability that delivers the right print every time. This standardization across vendors, partners and customers ensures a new horizon in flexo quality. The process requires a great deal of commitment from both suppliers and Esko, resulting in some very rewarding long-term relationships. It also enables all parties to benefit from offering this leading-edge print solution.”

Even companies that were initially reticent to gain certification because they wanted to remain impartial are now embracing the process, adds Buchweitz: “They are seeing the positive impact HD Flexo certification can have on their business. We started with certification of trade houses, which initially had difficulty getting equipment that matched the required standard. Now trade houses are encouraging their partners to get certified, and this has prompted exponential growth, spanning all sectors from flexible packaging and labels to folding cartons and corrugated.”

Certification delivers vendor benefits

“When we launched the HD Flexo certification program, we began with customers but soon realized that suppliers were keen to gain certification as well,” explains Buchweitz. “They found it to be a terrific way for them to demonstrate that their systems were capable of producing consistent and reliable high quality results. This in turn enabled them to have more meaningful conversations with their customers.”

The nine HD Flexo Certified vendors are:

Press vendors:

Edale (www.edale.com): manufacturer of specialist web printing and converting machinery in flexographic, digital and commercial security printing as well as specialty converting.
Gallus Labels (www.gallus-group.com): specialist in the provision of a comprehensive portfolio of machines and service for label and folding carton printers.
Mark Andy (www.markandy.com): manufacturer of narrow web printing equipment.
Omet (www.omet.it): manufacturer of narrow-web flexographic printing presses for labels, folding cartons and flexible packaging.

Ink Suppliers:

Siegwerk (www.siegwerk.com): independent ink manufacturer.

Anilox Suppliers:

Apex (www.apex-groupofcompanies.com): manufacturer of anilox rolls.
Harper (www.harperimage.com): manufacturer of laser engraved anilox rolls.
Zecher (www.zecher.com): manufacturer of anilox solutions.

Tape Suppliers:

Lohmann (www.lohmann-tapes.com): double-sided adhesive tape manufacturer.
Tesa (www.tesatape.com): double-sided adhesive tape manufacturer.

Customers embrace HD Flexo certification quality label

Among the customers that have seen HD Flexo transform their business is RAKO Etiketten and Stefan Behrens, head of pre-print, says: “Being HD Flexo certified strengthens our market presence and distinguishes us from the competition. The certification is a great marketing asset – it gives our customers and prospects even more confidence, and will help us win business.”

St-Luc, a self-adhesive labels print specialist, was the first printing company in Benelux to be HD Flexo certified, while Ampac took their graphics to the next level. Joe Lydic, Ampac’s art director, explains: “HD Flexo has done a great thing for the process image - we see a lot of positive attributes happening with solids and ink density. It also gives you more ink saturation. That alone is a big plus.”

“Prior to HD Flexo, selling flexo shrink sleeves against rotogravure was a harder sell - the quality didn’t quite match on the more intricate designs,” adds Sean Keeney, president and CEO, Walle Corporation - the first to invest in HD Flexo and the first North American label printer to achieve HD Flexo certification. “Then we saw a huge impact in drop shadows, so we don’t have any challenges getting to fine zero and 1% dots. Our customers are also realizing the benefits - winning awards for their package reproduction.”

Buchweitz concludes: “We are delighted that such a wide range of companies have embraced HD Flexo certification and are so committed to using it. The adoption rate is clear validation that the process works and that HD Flexo has important commercial benefits. HD Flexo Certified companies are able to differentiate their solutions from their competition.”

Edale achieves Esko HD Flexo certification

webmaster@esko.com (Esko) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:27:36 +0100

Gent (Belgium), January 2012 – Esko’s successful HD Flexo certification process continues to win industry approval with narrow web flexo press manufacturer Edale as the latest company to achieve the certification.

The £8m turnover Hampshire operation specializes in the design and manufacture of a number of presses including the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and FL-350 models, alongside its range of converting machinery the FDC-510, flatbed die cutting machine, the Lambda and the variable length sheet cutter the VLS-650. Edale achieved certification for its FL-350 and Gamma flexo presses as part of its continued commitment to improvement. It hopes to certify all its presses with the Alpha compact press and the Beta modular press next.

“We decided to gain HD Flexo certification because as a forward thinking business, Edale is constantly striving to improve the quality of flexo printing. Working with the Esko HD Flexo solution, we are pushing the boundaries for the highest quality printing results," states Jeremy Westcott, Edale’s Sales and Marketing Director. “The reduction in size of the smallest printable dot helps to achieve a finish far and above the traditional flexo methods. The images we can produce are much cleaner, sharper and more defined.”

Pushing the boundaries with HD Flexo certifcation

Edale recognizes the end user is always aiming to achieve increased quality and design in a competitive marketplace. With the HD Flexo certification, the company can assure this is delivered. Westcott adds: “Combining an Edale press with HD Flexo, we are really pushing the boundaries of flexo printing. The quicker make-ready time and greater run-lengths from the plates works in parallel with Edale's ethos of manufacturing presses that focus on minimum downtime and wastage, with a quicker time to market due to the simplified prepress. The richness of the image and the contrasting tones it can achieve, helps to keep flexo in the running with end results rivalling those of other technologies. When trialling machines to potential customers, the results we can show them are undoubtedly more impressive using this method.”

The rigorous certification process requires vendors and partners to consistently produce ten different print samples from five different jobs. Annual renew ensures print quality is maintained in line with market developments. Vendors also need to certify each product individually, but once the initial certification has been obtained, subsequent applications are faster and easier.

'Design to print to cut' with Esko at FESPA Digital 2012

webmaster@esko.com (Esko) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:22:54 +0100

Gent (Belgium), January 2012 - At FESPA Digital, Esko will showcase its ‘design to print to cut’ solutions that streamline the entire workflow, including the printing and finishing of sign and display applications. Featured at the show are the Kongsberg i-XP24 and Kongsberg i-XE10 Auto. Combined with i-cut Suite including the newly launched i-cut Automate, these end-to-end solutions deliver the most versatile equipment for the digital finishing of signs and displays. Esko will be located in Hall 3 stand H5 at the show, being held in Barcelona from 21 to 24 February.

Enjoy automatic savings with i-cut Suite Automate

i-cut Automate automates the entire production process to ultimately reduce costs. With i-cut Automate, users can quickly build dynamic workflows that automate repetitive prepress tasks, reducing operator intervention and errors. As well as time and money, it also saves materials in the production process.

i-cut Automate is the latest addition to Esko’s successful i-cut Suite - an integrated solution designed to streamline the entire sign and display manufacturing workflow, from design to print to cut. i-cut Suite includes workflow automation and editing tools that specifically support die-less digital finishing. It comprises of three core modules: i-cut Preflight to check incoming PDF data; i-cut Layout to handle the layout and nesting of sheet layouts and i-cut Vision Pro to ensure die-less cutting contours perfectly match the printed images.

“Printers increasingly understand the need for an integrated and automated workflow. To handle the larger number of shorter runs and wider job mix now typical of the market, they require solutions that remove time-consuming labor from the work process and cost-efficiently enhance throughput capacity,” says Armand Gougay, Esko Vice President EMEA. He points out that prepress workflow solutions are an especially important element of a successful future for sign and display companies: “With i-cut Suite, potential production issues are caught and resolved at the beginning of the workflow, resulting in a smooth manufacturing process. The ability to nest and automate the entire workflow are just some of the benefits that create efficiency gains for companies of all sizes, even small print shops."

Dedicated solutions delivering production improvements

Taking center stage at Esko’s FESPA Digital stand is the Kongsberg i-XP24 with sheet feeder, the market’s leading digital finishing solution specifically designed to deliver unsurpassed productivity and perfect registration. The Kongsberg i-XP24 is equipped with i-cut camera-based registration. It also has multiple quick-change cutting tools that allow manufacturers to easily handle a variety of materials.

Esko will also highlight its Kongsberg i-XE10 Auto, fully automated, die-less digital finishing solution, designed as the perfect finishing complement to any digital print operation. Specifically created with the growing demand for finishing of small-format, short-run digitally printed material in mind, it can work alongside any small-format or medium-sized digital press to deliver the industry’s most efficient sign and display graphics production solution.

Robust solutions for a versatile operation

Esko‘s versatile digital finishing solutions are unique in the industry. They enable customers to implement the most robust, productive and responsive workflow possible. "As a key growth market in the industry, the signs and displays and also the digital packaging segment offers exciting opportunities for manufacturers," concludes Gougay. "Companies investing in solutions for the entire workflow - including design, printing and cutting - are those that will benefit most. Our stand at FESPA Digital will clearly demonstrate Esko’s commitment to delivering low cost, simple entry-level functionality for PDF preflight and layout with exceptional productivity efficiencies, from the designer’s workstation all the way through to the finishing table. By adding even more automation to the process with i-cut Automate, customers are positioning themselves as formidable competitors within the market space.”

FESPA Partnership

Just as last year, FESPA has again chosen Esko as its exclusive Global Software & Finishing Partner. In addition, Esko has been selected as software and digital finishing partner for the Print Shop Live, a fully functional printing operation showcasing a full end-to-end workflow from design software, to RIP solutions, multiple output devices using different print technologies and finishing - all on the widest possible range of media. Esko will demonstrate the capabilities of its Kongsberg i-XE10 digital finishing solution and i-cut Suite software. The other partners are ONYX, GMG Color, Epson, Mutoh and Ilford Biomedia. Guided tours by inkjet expert Sophie Matthews-Paul will highlight the advantages of the technologies on show and how they integrate effectively.

2000th CDI!

webmaster@esko.com (Esko) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:18:05 +0100

VCG Connect, one of Europe’s leading providers of digital reprographic services, is the proud owner of the 2000th CDI to roll off the production line in Itzehoe. VCG Connect chose a second CDI Spark 5080 with HD Flexo.

^{Proud Esko employees at Itzehoe standing around the 2000th CDI}

Sharper and more accurate imaging
Jim McCormack, managing director, explains: “We are known for our leading-edge innovative technology and that is why we work with EskoArtwork."

“We can now extend our tonal range with smooth vignettes, highlights and shadows and also adjust imaging resolution from job to job and produce sharper and more accurate imaging. As a result of the high quality; we have just won a major contract with a huge brand and 2012 will see us export over £750,000 of printing plates to nine countries including Russia and Poland."

“In winning this work, we felt vulnerable with only one CDI. We were so satisfied with all the technical support that we had received since the installation of the first CDI Spark 5080, we had no compunction in ordering the second, ” continues David Piercy, operations director.

Want to know more?

EskoArtwork installs 2000th CDI Digital Flexo plate Imager at VCG Connect – in Bury, United Kingdom

webmaster@esko.com (Esko) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:03:04 +0100

Gent (Belgium), December 2011 – EskoArtwork (www.esko.com) proudly announces the 2000^th installation of a Cyrel^® Digital Imager (CDI) at VCG Connect UK. The landmark installation is the second CDI Spark 5080 with HD Flexo in 2011 for VCG Connect, one of Europe’s leading providers of digital reprographics services.

Since its introduction as the world’s first digital imager for flexo plates, the Cyrel Digital Imager established itself as the clear market leader. Juergen Andresen, EskoArtwork Vice President , Flexo Business, comments: “It is fantastic we have reached this exciting milestone just a few years after the installation of the 1000^th CDI and after less than two years of the 1500^th installation. It's clear that the interest in this technology is growing as brand owners and converters continuously look to digital flexo for its enhanced print quality, increased productivity and consistent results from plate run to plate run.”

EskoArtwork over the years has grown to a strong leader in the digital flexo area domain. The CDI was introduced in 1995, and today almost 90% of all digital flexo plates and sleeves worldwide are being imaged on one of Esko´s CDI devices.

EskoArtwork supports VCG Connect's ongoing innovation

UK graphics origination specialist for the print and packaging industry, VCG Connect serves many of Europe’s largest printers and brand owners. The EskoArtwork solutions, introduced throughout their longstanding relationship, touch every aspect of the company’s operations. For example EskoArtwork’s HD Flexo technology forms the basis of VCG Connect’s Q-Flex high quality flexo platemaking and service developed by David Piercy, operations director, and Geoff Walton, technical director.

Jim McCormack, managing director, explains: “We are known for our leading-edge innovative technology and that is why we work with EskoArtwork. In fact this year we have installed £800,000 in capital equipment and we believe that is more than the rest of the UK trade shops put together.”

VCG Connect’s dedicated development programme has enabled them to create the perfect solution for their customers says McCormack: “We can now extend our tonal range with smooth vignettes, highlights and shadows and also adjust imaging resolution from job to job and produce sharper and more accurate imaging. As a result of the high quality; we have just won a major contract with a huge brand and 2012 will see us export over £750,000 of printing plates to nine countries including Russia and Poland."

VCG Connect also adopted HD Flexo and McCormack adds: “Since the investment in HD Flexo, we’ve seen a marked increase in the quality of the final product, which has gone down very well with our customers. They like the flat top dots that enable them to run fewer colours at a lower cost or achieve finer detail. We have been taking a lot of work from gravure with many accounts moving over to flexo.”

Development commitment continues with HD Flexo

Introduced two years ago, HD Flexo combines 4000 dpi HD optics with unique screening technologies to take advantage of sharper and more accurate imaging for an outstanding print quality. The aim of HD Flexo is to increase flexo printing quality and be a viable alternative to offset and gravure printing. With HD Flexo, the screen rulings in flexo can be increased, while at the same time the size of the smallest printable dot is reduced. Users of HD Flexo also benefit from being able to achieve the full tonal range of offset, greater run lengths and fewer washing cycles as well as improved shadow performance of their prints.

McCormack concludes: “It is no longer believed that flexo is a poor relation to any print process. It has now come of age as a cost effective and high quality alternative and next year we see demand increasing exponentially as the world’s top brands increasingly adopt its potential.”

EskoArtwork donates new CDI Spark 2530 imager to Dunwoody College of Technology

webmaster@esko.com (Esko) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:29:57 +0100

Miamisburg, OH (USA), December 2011 – As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering education in the packaging industry, EskoArtwork has donated a CDI Spark 2530 imager to The Harper Center of Graphics Technologies at Dunwoody College of Technology. This latest donation adds to the multiple seats of EskoArtwork packaging design and prepress software already in place at the Minneapolis-based school.

Dunwoody College of Technology offers a two-year graphics communications program divided into three tracks: design, premedia and press. Class sizes are kept small, and students get heavy doses of real world experience, digging deep into applications and press operations.

The formula is working: graduates hit the streets well versed in today’s technology, giving Dunwoody a very successful placement record with local industry. Just recently, for example, six students armed with ArtiosCAD experience obtained jobs involving structural design.

Plus, for the second year in a row and the third time in four years, Dunwoody’s team took first place in the Phoenix College Challenge, an annual product design and printing competition for colleges held during the Flexographic Technical Association’s Annual Forum and Info*Flex event. This year’s event, with 30 colleges participating, was held April 30, 2011, in Indianapolis.

“Every year the schools have to come up with a solution to a problem and then offer a 20 minute presentation talking about the technical aspects of the process,’ explains Shawn Oetjen. “To solve the problem, we used a wide range of EskoArtwork tools, from structural design, to a prepress workflow and RIP software, to making the flexo plates.”

Learning a complete workflow

With the latest CDI Spark donation, Dunwoody students are able to learn all the tasks involved in an all-digital workflow, from project design to making plates. “Before we got the CDI, we were using film and, let’s be real, nobody is using film,” says Oetjen. “It was a huge gaping hole in our workflow. We had to outsource the film for processing—there was an entire part of the workflow that we were missing. The CDI just completes the workflow—our students can really see how it all comes together.”

Within the graphic design track, classes in structural design and package layout and design make complete use of ArtiosCAD, used as part of the program for the past three years. “Once we had ArtiosCAD, there was a significant change in how we taught that part of the program,” notes Gerald Timmreck, Program Manager, Design & Graphics Technology. “Students can actually see how to make a die and do it themselves. In the past, we had to design it in Adobe ® Illustrator ® and then send it to a vendor who would make the cuts. If it the cuts were bad, the student was out of luck. With ArtiosCAD, we can make an actual prototype, and test the die; if it’s not right, we can make adjustments.”

As part of the structural design class, students are required to seek a college employee to recruit as a ‘customer’; the customer comes up with a product that requires packaging. The product can be something that is really sold. For example, one instructor used the packaging for a jewelry line she creates. Or it can be for a toy in the instructor’s office. In either scenario, the process is the same.

“Students use ArtiosCAD to offer the internal client a demo of what their packaging will look like before the project is finished,” says Timmreck. “The 3D feature is a very valuable real-work tool that lets students see on a computer monitor if the prototype works before it gets to the cutting table. The animation features in Visualizer are really great; students can see how the prototype will lay out and fold.”

Adds Timmreck, “There’s a lot of ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ of what the students can do with ArtiosCAD, which is a big factor because it makes the student much more interested in what they are doing.”

From start to finish

In the Production Workflow class within the press track, students are expected to create a packaging label from start to finish: design an image, lay it out, trap it and make the plates. “We use DeskPack, Automation Engine 10, and FlexProof to make proofs and FlexRIP to RIP files,” says Oetjen. “We use Color Engine to color manage the proofs, and CDI to make the plates.”

The theory is that the more students can touch the software, the better. By the time they graduate, they are expected to be able to design and lay out a file, trap it, make a plate, and run the project on press.

“A lot of the tools that EskoArtwork has incorporated into their software are cool and fun, so they keep the students interested in learning,” says Oetjen “But they also make sense. Seeing that the students ‘get it’, and why trapping, for example, is so important, is a great thing. They aren’t just listening to us explain theories — they are seeing it for themselves. I show them what to do the first time around, but then they have to do it on their own.”

While using DeskPack and PackEdge, for instance, students on the premedia and press tracks are learning the ins and out of trapping. “A designer will design the file,” says Oetjen. “The students see the trap before it goes on press. When they see what happens to the design on press they can physically see the results and why they’re trapping. It’s a powerful tool. When they actually see it, the light bulb goes on; they get it. It’s a beautiful thing.”

About Dunwoody College of Technology

Dunwoody College of Technology is the only private, not-for-profit technical college in the Upper Midwest. It has been a leader in training technicians and designers for the printing and graphics industry for most of its nearly 100-year history. The Design & Graphics Technology Department teaches students in graphic design, pre-media or press and finishing technologies who are industry-ready from the day they graduate. The department features a full-service Print Services Center and has won seven of the last 10 national flexographic competition titles.

EskoArtwork and VT Group—a partnership that keeps on growing

webmaster@esko.com (Esko) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:28:13 +0100

Miamisburg, OH (USA), December, 2011 — The VT Group is not content to stand still.

Established in 1966 as VT Graphics, a manufacturer of flexographic plates, the company continues to evolve and expand, and today VT Graphics is now one part of a company known as The VT Group, which also consists of Digital Impact LLC and Ocean Design LLC. Together, these three companies offer a full complement of services for the manufacture of POP displays and corrugated shipping containers, including flexographic design and prepress; negative and plate manufacturing; short run digital printing; and pre-mounting and plotter capabilities. Located in a 45,000 square foot campus in Yeadon, just outside of Philadelphia, the VT Group services Fortune 500 and top name brand companies both nationally and internationally.

No matter what the product or service, the company strives to provide innovative and cost effective solutions for its customers. To that end, the company has continually looked to EskoArtwork to help it meet customer demands for quick turnaround, high quality, short run packaging, and POP displays.

Ahead of the curve

“The only way to be successful in packaging is to stay at least one step ahead of the competition, and to continually invest in technology that lets you not only meet your customers’ requirements, but exceed them,” says Robert Mormile, President and CEO, VT Group. “A big part of the reason we have been able to do that is because of EskoArtwork.”

Digital Impact houses the group’s most recent EskoArtwork acquisition, the Kongsberg XP44 Auto, the first installed in North America. Digital Impact, which focuses on POP counter and floor displays and retail signage, is partnering the finishing table with the company’s new six-color UV Durst Rho 900 large-format printer and Drytac laminator.

“The Kongsberg XP44 Auto, working with our new Durst large-format printer and Drytac laminator, has doubled our capacity and boosted our quality in short run production, given us even greater competitive advantage over offset,” says Mormile. “Our original Kongsberg DCM die cutters—with their ability to cut a huge number of substrates without having to cut dies--helped move us into the short run arena, generating new business opportunities, With the recent addition of the Rho 900, a 98-inch wide UV flatbed, we needed a digital die cutter that could keep up with its production and handle the larger format sizes. As far as we were concerned, there was only one clear choice—the Kongsberg XP44 Auto.”

The EskoArtwork Konsberg Auto XP44 Auto forms the perfect complement to Digital Impact’s two older-model EskoArtwork Konsberg DCM 24 digital cutting machines, driven by EskoArtwork’s Digital Flexo Suite for packaging. The Kongsberg machines are an integral part of Digital Impact’s full digital production workflow for POP displays and short-run packaging, which includes the new Durst printer as well as a six-color HP Scitex FB6700 industrial flatbed printer.

“The Kongsberg XP44 goes a long way in helping us meet customer demands for fast turnarounds of large-format displays,” says Mormile. “ Like our Kongsberg DCM 24 units, it automatically loads and unload sheets, letting us run the machine without being attended by an operator. We can fit all the parts of a display job onto a single sheet, because of the large working area, which not only saves us time, but cost. We can also work with a lot of different materials—even acrylics.”

The Kongsberg machines manufacture from one to 1,500 pieces, reliably delivering rapid-fire turnarounds and letting Digital Impact offer specialty converting as well as short run work. Both models feature a scope of quick creasing, cutting and crushing tools, and can cut at maximum speed through a broad range of substrates up to double wall corrugated.

Key ingredient

EskoArtwork technology is also a key ingredient to VT Group’s ability to meet customer quality and turnaround demands. In March of 2010, VT Group made headlines, becoming the proud owner of the 1500^th EskoArtwork Cyrel Digital Imager (CDI). The CDI 5080 Spark flexo plate imager has allowed VT Group to expand its plate offerings for POS displays and shipping containers and to enter new markets—the result of the CDI’s ability to deliver 135-150 lpi screens.

Also at VT Group is Esko’s Color Management System, which forms the foundation for the company’s proprietary Trucolor dot proofing system, giving the shop the necessary ability to fingerprint clients’ presses for more accurate printing.

Meanwhile, Ocean Design runs EskoArtWork’s ArtiosCAD packaging structural design software, which delivers intelligent drafting tools specifically designed for product development and virtual prototyping and manufacturing. ArtiosCAD lets Ocean Design create 3D versions of prototype samples, allowing customers to see what their package or display will look like without having to go through the process of making a sample. This not only saves the client money but also lets displays get to market faster.

“The VT Group uses a lot of EskoArtwork technology, from software suites to color management to production machines,” says Mormile. “EskoArtwork is definitely an important asset for the corrugated industry — and, of course, the VT Group — coming out with cutting edge software and hardware, so we can succeed as the industry evolves and changes.”

Adds Mormile, “We will be updating to EskoArtwork Suite 10 production workflow software over the next few weeks. We have a good partnership with EskoArtwork that benefits us both, as we help them by beta testing new technology and they help us by continually remaining on target, delivering what we need to navigate through this extremely complex industry.”

EskoArtwork Appoints New Vice President Asia

webmaster@esko.com (Esko) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:23:19 +0100

Gent (Belgium), December 8, 2011 – EskoArtwork (www.esko.com) announces the appointment of Hoshi Deboo as Vice President Asia Pacific. Deboo will take over responsibilities for activities in Asia Pacific and Japan (excluding China) from Jean-Pierre De Moor, who is leaving the company after 22 years of service to pursue new opportunities.

“Hoshi brings a wealth of diverse executive talent and experience to this role,” says Carsten Knudsen, CEO EskoArtwork: “I am pleased to welcome him to our team as we continue to drive growth and profitability in the Asia Pacific region. As this dynamic market continues to rapidly evolve, EskoArtwork is perfectly positioned to help customers make the most of developing opportunities. Central to that ability is an assured delivery of service via an educated and cohesive team that Hoshi is well-suited to lead.”

Deboo joins EskoArtwork from United Fiber Systems, Ltd., where he was Acting CEO and Executive Director charged with restructuring the company and bringing in a major investor. During the 1990s, Deboo was based in Singapore with RR Donnelley developing a US$273 million Asian publishing and print outsourcing services business extending from Japan to Australia with operations in seven countries. Subsequently, he joined Cenveo, a $2 billion consolidator of commercial printing companies, leading a $200 million business unit for the company.

Deboo speaks four Asian languages and has a wide network of U.S. and Asia Pacific contacts. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and an M.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.

“I am excited to be joining the EskoArtwork team,” Deboo says. “EskoArtwork brings market-leading solutions to the printing, publishing and packaging industries and is committed to developing new services and solutions that help customers meet their individual market and end user needs. There is a huge opportunity for growth of this business in the Asian market, and I am looking forward to transforming those growth opportunities into reality.”

De Moor, who will remain with EskoArtwork during a period of transition, says: “During my time with EskoArtwork, the company has greatly increased its presence in the Asian market, creating solutions that address unique, region-specific issues. I believe EskoArtwork’s presence in this exciting market will be taken to a new level under Hoshi’s leadership. I wish him well in this challenging and rewarding role.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jean-Pierre for his loyalty and dedication in the 22 years he has served EskoArtwork,” adds Knudsen. “He played a pivotal role in an exciting period of growth that will continue to evolve through Hoshi’s expertise. We wish him the best in his new endeavors.”

NEW! DeskPack PDF Import

webmaster@esko.com (Esko) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:02:35 +0100

Import PDFs with Esko specific information in Adobe^® Illustrator^® without losing anything! Try it for free.

DeskPack PDF Import improves the way Normalized PDF files are converted into Adobe^® Illustrator^® format.

Esko specific information is passed to Illustrator^® to keep the file editable. It enables secure file round-tripping between the different prepress editors of EskoArtwork. Try the plug-in for free.

Full feature overview

The layer names are preserved, the locked status is preserved and the printability flag is preserved.
Named objects: the names of artwork are preserved.
Inks: EskoArtwork screenings, ink types, ink books, and ink order as shown in Ink Manager are preserved.
For each object, the EskoArtwork screening is preserved and shown in InkManager. The Screening plug-in is not necessary for this functionality.
All Structural design layers (from the CAD file) are imported.
Page boxes: the Media Box and the Trim Box are imported and shown by the Trim Box and Media Box plug-in.
Text is handled in a better way, text is kept live as much as possible
Linework with mixed (DeviceN) colors will be converted into multiple appearances instead of resulting in an ‘unknown imaging construct’.
Linked images: PDF Import supports links to external images. All links are preserved.
Channel mapped images are recognized and remain their mapping, even on linked images.