Esko launches new hardware and adds features to its software

‘As a technology company, we are relentlessly developing technologies to serve our markets and customers better,’ said Jan de Roeck, director of marketing, industry relations and strategy at Esko. ‘We build long-term relationships with our customers and strive to ensure our solutions remain relevant and innovative, enabling anyone using them in the packaging value chain to benefit from operational efficiency improvements.’

Esko has introduced a range of updates and new features to its software. The WebCenter 20.0 now incorporates an improved user experience and WebCenter Tasks Plugin; ArtPro+ 20.1 Plate Cut, a new automated feature that finds the optimal individual cutting path for each separation, reducing preparation time for flexo plate mounting by up to 30 minutes.

The ArtPro+ 20.1 Trapping is a new algorithm which closes misregister gaps and accommodates individual exceptions, making trapping jobs up to 70 percent faster, while the new AVT AutoSet offers an integration between Esko Automation Engine and AVT’s press inspection system.

The company has also revealed Kongsberg VariAngle tool for the Kongsberg range of digital finishing equipment that enables cutting at any angle from 0 and 60 degrees at high speed, delivering total freedom in the design of 3D creative displays.

The new Crystal XPS 4260 – the newest member of the family of Crystal UV LED exposure units for digital flexo plate making, available for the first time in this plate size.

‘Digitizing the process by which packaging is made is already key to delivering long-term business success,’ said de Roeck. ‘But as we now move into whatever new normal emerges from the global coronavirus crisis, the importance of improving operational processes, lowering costs and delivering client loyalty are more vital than ever.

‘In the wake of the pandemic, we wanted to double down on enabling businesses to continue their journey of digital transformation to meet head-on the challenges we face today. With the November release, we are delivering a greater range of functions that streamline processes and improve productivity for customers.’

‘Our innovations serve to illustrate our commitment to customers, ensuring they enjoy a greater user experience and improved efficiency. For example, ArtPro+ 20.1 now features the innovative Esko trapper, which recently received the InterTech Award for Innovation. It ensures prepress operators achieve a consistent, aesthetic trapping result with the correct distance, direction or color. Similarly, with the latest version of our packaging management solution, WebCenter 20.0, we are making prepress processes considerably faster while delivering a 25 percent increase in performance,’ concluded de Roeck.