Esko at drupa 2012

• Strongest-ever trade show presence for the company 
•  “Results that Make You Smile” is the campaign theme, focusing on how Esko solutions add value to the business of its customers.
• Showcasing best-of-class solutions for brand execution, packaging prepress, digital flexo, digital finishing and more…

Gent (Belgium), March 7, 2012 – drupa 2012 will be Esko’s (www.esko.com) biggest trade event presence ever with the largest show space in its history. On the 900 sqm. stand, visitors will encounter a solution showroom incorporating Esko’s innovative software, hardware and services portfolio. To make their drupa experience more productive, visitors can already schedule hands-on demonstrations and specific appointments with technical experts by visiting www.esko.com/drupa. Esko is located in Hall 8b, stand A23.

“Every four years, graphic arts professionals worldwide visit drupa to learn about the latest trends, solutions and technology developments that can help their businesses. Esko will not disappoint them,” says Carsten Knudsen, CEO of Esko. “The show will mark the launch of a range of the most innovative developments in Esko‘s solution portfolio. Supported by our best staff and resellers, visitors will easily identify how our value propositions make them smile.”

On display at Esko’s stand
Visitors will discover a wide array of Software solutions addressing packaging artwork, management, design and prepress, color management, workflow automation and process integration. With the introduction of Suite 12, a major update release of Esko’s workflow software offering for the packaging, label, sign making and display industries, the focus is again on adding value for the user by introducing new productivity and efficiency benefits. This is done by close integration of all flagship tools and engines, by adding rich 3D functionality for a holistic experience and by enabling mobile collaboration and web-based packaging management workflows.
Featuring WebCenter 12, Automation Engine 12, Color Engine 12, Studio 12 and the flagship editors ArtiosCAD, PackEdge, ArtPro and DeskPack, Esko Suite 12 raises the bar for process integration from design to press involving all players in the supply chain. Suite 12 provides a complete answer to the challenges of a modern packaging preproduction workflow. Read the Suite 12 pr for more details.

Esko continues to innovate digital flexo by upgrading flexo print quality to previously unseen levels and by streamlining all steps of the plate making process from prepress to mounting; Esko’s Digital Flexo solutions are unique in the market. The CDI Spark 2530 with digital Inline UV1 and the CDI Spark 4835 Auto with digital Inline UV2 will be on display next to the Digital Flexo Suite optimizing the flexo plate making process. The CDI Spark 4835 Auto, equipped with a digital UV back-exposure is one of the highlights on the Esko booth. This innovative flexo plate imager integrates digital back exposure, automated loading, imaging, digital main exposure and off-loading to the processing unit. Flexo plate imaging by a single click on a button will put a smile on many faces.

Visitors to the stand will learn about Esko’s HD Flexo technology first-hand through an array of astonishing high quality print flexo samples from all over the world. Esko continues on its path of HD Flexo innovation with the introduction of HD Flexo Pixel+ technology. Pixel+ is an optical, electronic and screening enhancement for HD Flexo imaging to support flat top dots creation for different plate vendor flat top dots offerings like DigiCorr, DigiFlow, Lux and Next. It leads to a substantial increase in solid ink density.
Loyal to its role of innovator, Esko will preview the next generation of HD Flexo plate imaging technology at drupa 2012. In the quest for quality, the combination of smooth highlight printing and gravure-like solid ink densities for flexible packaging has remained a difficult combination. With digital main exposure built into the CDI imager (Inline UV2) in combination with innovative imaging and screening technology, Esko is now able to control the shape of different dot structures in one single plate. The result will be a superior flexo plate suitable for the highlight ànd the shadow or solid areas of a print job. For every flexible packaging professional this is an absolute “must-see” at drupa 2012. Read the Digital Flexo pr for more details.

Esko will also highlight its Digital Finishing solutions at drupa. With four Kongsberg configurations on the stand, Esko will be showing the wide range of digital finishing applications in packaging, display and sign making. Live application demos using a wide range of materials will be run on each of the tables, including the fully automated XP44 Auto. Esko's integrated software solutions for structural design – ArtiosCAD and digital finishing workflow - i-cut Suite - will be presented as well.
The Digital Finishing highlight of the event will be the new Kongsberg XN: a highly versatile and productive digital finishing table that can be configured easily for the widest range of different applications: from kiss-cutting to packaging mockups to heavy-duty milling. This new table comes equipped with the impressive High Power Milling Spindle - boosting overall milling productivity. Read the Digital Finishing pr for more details.

Esko’s subsidiary Enfocus will feature a series of demo stations on the Esko stand, reflecting new brand identity and featuring its portfolio of software solutions, including the new Enfocus Switch 11 and Enfocus PitStop 11. For more information about the latest product releases, visit www.enfocus.com.

Ask Esko’s Experts
More than 30 application and technology experts will be staffing the Esko booth, well prepared to provide advice and explain the possibilities offered by Esko solutions. For visitors with more specific questions, Esko's technical gurus will be available at the Genius Bar to answer questions about color, workflow and MIS integration, packaging design, prepress and imaging technology. Meetings, demonstrations and expert slots can be booked in advance of the show on www.esko.com/drupa.
“Professional visitors from all over the world looking for solutions in packaging, workflow automation and integration, digital flexo or digital finishing should make our stand their destination of choice," concludes Carsten Knudsen. "At drupa, our entire focus is on presenting innovative solutions in a manner that explicitly demonstrates the added value to the individual visitor’s business needs. We want to inspire for success, we want visitors to walk away with actionable ideas that can immediately be implemented so they can deliver results that make them smile. Our entire drupa presence and organisation is structured to deliver against that objective. We are expecting an exciting and busy show."

For more information on the Esko stand and to book a demo, visit www.esko.com/drupa.

About Esko (www.esko.com)
Esko is a global supplier of integrated solutions for packaging, sign and display finishing, commercial printing and professional publishing. Esko products and services help customers raise productivity, reduce time-to-market, lower costs and expand business and improve profitability.

Portfolio
Esko is the worldwide market leader with software for artwork creation, structural design, pre-production, workflow automation, quality assurance and online collaboration. Esko solutions support and manage the packaging and print processes at brand owners, retailers, designers and packaging manufacturers.
CDI flexo computer-to-plate imagers and Kongsberg digital finishing systems complete the portfolio for the packaging, label, signage and display industries.
Enfocus, with its suite of PDF tools for graphic designers and print production professionals, is part of Esko.

Facts & numbers
Esko employs around 1200 people worldwide. Its direct sales and service organization covers Europe, the Americas and the Asia Pacific region, completed by a network of distribution partners in more than 50 countries.
Esko is headquartered in Gent, Belgium, and has R&D and manufacturing facilities in five European countries, the United States, China and India.
For more information, visit www.esko.com or contact:

P.R. agencies
Europa, Asia, África
Nancy Vermeulen
duomedia pr
Tel: +32 2 560 21 50
nancy.v@duomedia.com

North America
Irvin Press
Press+
Tel: +1 508 384 0608
irv@press-plus.com

Esko
Corporate and EMEA
Jef Stoffels
Director of Corporate Marketing
Tel: +32 9 216 90 32 jef.stoffels@esko.com

Americas
Tim Zula
Director, Mktg. Communications
Tel: +1 937 535 6060
timothy.zula@esko.com

Asia-Pacific
Stephanie Peh
Marketing Manager
Tel: +65 624 994 49
stephanie.peh@esko.com

Japan
Simon Ivarsson
Pre-sales & Marketing Manager
Tel: +81 3 5909 7631
simon.ivarsson@esko.com

All press releases, as well as corresponding product pictures, are available at the press section at www.esko.com.