Esko has two new turnkey label solutions ready to launch at Labelexpo in Brussels: a new online platform and a new automation engine.
The online platform comes as an extension of its established WebCentre offering Essentials for Labels. Scott Thompson, inside sales and marketing manager for Esko in New Zealand and Australia, says, “We have had WebCentre for quite some time. It is an online-approval system, a web-based platform that manages packaging production specifications and approval.
“What we are unveiling is a turnkey management programme for label production. For the label market, there are specific needs and specifications. With the WebCentre essentials project management bundle, you can view hyper-realistic 3D mock-ups online before the final product. That can be used for prototyping, proofing, and client approvals.”
Esko’s Automation Engine Essentials for labels automates the workflow process, from prepress through to production, which the company says will save time, and reduce errors for the user.
Thompson says, “Our system simplifies many steps in the process of label production through each stage of the workflow. It cuts lead times, reduces risks of errors, while maintaining high quality.
“When you are doing complex labels, there are separations which need to be checked: white underprint, foils, embossing, all these processes need to be handled differently, set up with different systems.
“I have seen customers work on a label, where it has taken two to three hours minimum, even four spent trapping the file ready for stepping. By our automation, we have cut that down to minutes. Then with proofing; there can be one employee dedicated wholly to checking one up proofs.
“We can automate that, template-based, without the operator having to touch it. For layouts, especially with an MIS, ERP system, if you have that layout information, the stepping information upfront, the operator does not have to do anything.
“With label automation, it can be linked with an MIS or ERP system, and obtain information from systems: xml, sql, step and repeat data. Using that information you can automate all of the process, and then feed back information to the MIS and ERP system. It is a two-way communication between your MIS and ERP.”
Operators can configure the automation engine with GlobalVision, a quality control inspection programme which can check for text, colour, barcode, and Braille errors.
