Esko, AVT, X-Rite and Pantone combine their strengths in color and inspection solutions to create a ‘Right First Time’ workflow across the packaging supply chain.
Ghent (Belgium), June 6, 2018 – Esko, a global technology innovator providing hardware and software for packaging design, development and production, today reported that it has joined forces with Danaher (NYSE: DHR) sister companies AVT, X-Rite and Pantone to integrate its automation and collaboration solutions, with the X-Rite and Pantone color technology and AVT’s camera inspection solutions.
These three integrations, that digitize and connect the most advanced technologies of Esko, AVT, X-Rite and Pantone, were demonstrated during EskoWorld, the annual Esko user event taking place in San Antonio, Texas (5-7 June, 2018). The integrations are designed to preserve the digital flow of data across connected systems, addressing market demands for faster time to market and ‘Right First Time’ production in smaller lot sizes while taking cost and waste reduction into account.
Automated print inspection device setup increases press uptime by 30 to 60 minutes per press shift
Current print inspection setup and processes depend on time-consuming manual intervention by the press operator. This lengthens press setup time and, knowing that a manual inspection setup is error prone, causes additional press downtime and impacts the quality of the work produced. Furthermore, the print inspection devices are just not getting used. A digital link between Esko’s leading packaging prepress workflow, Automation Engine, AVT press workflow, and inspection systems Helios and Argos now provides data to automatically set up a job for inspection on conventional and digital presses, as well as on rewinders. Geert De Proost, Director Solutions Marketing at Esko says: “Using this integration, we remove a task from the operator’s to-do list and guarantee a ‘Right First Time’ result. The impact is higher accuracy inspection, consistent usage and lower rejection rates. In addition, it simply creates 30 to 60 minutes more productive time per press shift.
Optimized in-line color measurement and automated color reporting
Brand owners are increasingly placing tighter color requirements on converters and want to receive print quality reports. For converters, in-line color measurement can be sub-optimal due to inefficient job setups, lack of automated reporting capabilities for their own operations and their brand owner clients, and no ability to integrate off-line measurement into total color performance.
With the new bi-directional integration between X-Rite ColorCert Suite, which defines color requirements and collects press run color data to report on color performance, and the AVT Spectralab in-line color measurement device, job data is automatically sent to the spectro, which automatically sets up the job for inline color measurement. During the run, the color measurements are sent directly from AVT’s Spectralab to X-Rite’s ColorCert, which collects the data and builds a color scorecard, reporting on the color quality performance of the print run.
“This digital integration delivers better visibility into color performance based on measurable, objective results. This solution helps converters to be ‘Right First Time’ and increases color consistency for brand owners,” states Roie Moran, Product Manager at AVT.
Press operators save 5 minutes job setup time, each time
Today’s operators manually and separately enter production specifications into different systems, creating redundancy and room for error. A digital link between Esko’s collaboration platform WebCenter, and X-Rite’s ColorCert Suite automatically populates color-related specification fields for job creation. When the job runs on the printing press, score values return back to WebCenter to be stored and displayed centrally for true closed-loop color control and reporting. As Betsy Van Kooten, Product Manager confirms: “With this integration, operators get it ‘Right First Time’. Job creation time can be reduced by up to five minutes per job, while improving traceability and visibility in the design workflow.”
The integrations shown at EskoWorld will be commercially available by fall 2018.
“By integrating the communication and workflow for color specification and camera inspection, we create great efficiencies in the packaging supply chain. Packaging and color data only needs to be entered once to trigger correct communication and clear reporting,” concludes Danielle Sauvé, Director of Customer Insights & Experience for Danaher’s Product Identification platform. “With unique solutions that combine the strengths of our individual operating companies, we continue to pursue our mission to simplify the packaging value chain with digital tools, automation and connectivity.”
About Esko
Packaging Simplified. Esko helps its customers to make the best packaging for billions of consumers.
The Esko product portfolio supports and manages the packaging and print processes for brand owners, retailers, designers, premedia and trade shops, packaging manufacturers, and converters. For 9 out of 10 retail packages, Esko solutions are used in packaging management, asset management, artwork creation, structural design, prepress, 3D visualization, flexo plate making, workflow automation, quality assurance, sample-making, palletization, supply chain collaboration and/or the production of signage and displays.
The Esko solutions consist of an extensive suite of software and two hardware product lines: CDI flexo computer-to-plate imagers and exposure units as well as Kongsberg digital cutting systems, complemented with professional services, training and consultancy.
Enfocus, with its suite of automation solutions and PDF quality control tools for printers, publishers, and graphic designers, is an Esko subsidiary. MediaBeacon, with its digital asset management (DAM) solutions is also part of the Esko family.
Esko employs about 1,500 people worldwide. Headquartered in Gent (Belgium), its sales and service orgnization is in daily contact with customers all over the globe.
Esko is a Danaher company.
About AVT
AVT is the global leader in print process control, quality assurance, and press control for the packaging, labels, and commercial print industries. Backed by state-of-the-art technology and field-proven solutions, more than 7,000 AVT systems are installed at customer sites worldwide. AVT is headquartered in Hod-Hasharon, Israel with sales, marketing, and support offices in the United States, Europe and China. For more information, visit www.avt-inc.com.
About X-Rite
Founded in 1958, X-Rite Incorporated is a global leader in the science and technology of color and appearance. With Pantone, X-Rite employs more than 800 people in 11 countries. The company’s corporate headquarters are located in Grand Rapids, Mich., with regional headquarters in Europe and Asia and service centers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. X-Rite offers a full range of solutions used by manufacturers, retailers, printers, photographers and graphic design houses to achieve precise management and communication of color and appearance throughout their processes. X-Rite products and services are recognized standards in the printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles and medical industries. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com. For the latest news, information, connect with X-Rite on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
About Pantone
Pantone provides the universal language of color that enables color-critical decisions through every stage of the workflow for brands and manufacturers. More than 10 million designers and producers around the world rely on Pantone products and services to help define, communicate and control color from inspiration to realization – leveraging advanced X-Rite technology to achieve color consistency across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion and product design. Pantone Standards feature digital and physical color specification and workflow tools. The Pantone Color Institute™ provides brand identity consulting and custom color services, as well as trend forecasting inclusive of its annual Color of the Year announcement, Fashion Color Trend Reports, forecast publications and more. Pantone B2B Licensing incorporates the Pantone Color System into different products and services, enabling licensees to communicate and reproduce certified Pantone values and improve efficiencies for their users. Pantone Lifestyle brings color and design together across apparel, home, and accessories. Learn more at www.pantone.com and connect with Pantone on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
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©2018 X-Rite, Inc. All rights reserved. X-Rite is a registered trademark of X-Rite, Inc. PANTONE®, PantoneLIVE and other Pantone trademarks are the property of Pantone LLC. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Pantone is a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated. Licensed under Sun Chemical Corporation. Sun Chemical’s patented technology enables the communication of a consistent, digital description of the desired appearance of a product. – U.S. Patent Nos. 7,034,960; 7,202,976; 7,268,918; 7,417,764; 7,738,149 and their foreign equivalents. © Pantone LLC, 2018. All rights reserved.
