Esko Releases Suite 14 Software
- Published: July 15, 2014
GHENT, BELGIUM | Esko has released Suite 14, a comprehensive collection of new and updated software reportedly designed to give brand owners, premedia houses, converters, sign and display producers, and commercial printers the resources they need to manage today's complex preproduction environment.
"To be successful today, packaging service providers and brands owners are required to perform exceptionally well in all areas of packaging preproduction," says Carsten Knudsen, Esko president and CEO. "Brand owners must create packaging designs that resonate with consumers and that are designed, developed, and produced with the utmost accuracy. Converters must execute perfectly and efficiently to remain profitable. There is also a need ensure regulatory compliance and to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner within the entire ecosystem. Above all, everyone throughout the entire packaging supply chain must be able to work together effectively to achieve these goals."
Knudsen adds, "In the Suite 14 development process, Esko concentrated its resources on addressing five key trends in packaging preproduction: the increasing importance of workflow automation; the use of Smart Templates to handle package variations; quality as the most important driver; a more task-focused software user interface to drive increased efficiency; and integration of the Supply Chain and data-sharing via the cloud. The result is Esko Suite 14, bringing together a family of solutions that provides all parties in the packaging preproduction supply chain with the resources they need to succeed in this dynamic market.”
Suite 14 enhancements include the following:
• The WebCenter, focused on supply chain connectivity
• Automation Engine software kit that enables users to further remove manual activities from the packaging preproduction process, driving end-to-end automation
• An updated ArtiosCAD editor
• New 3D tools
• A new version of Studio
• CHILI Publish integration for Cloud-based package editing
• Visual inspection systems said to provide automatic setup and eliminate set-up time
• ArtPro+, a new application that gives users a tool for quality control of artwork and prepress files
• Imaging Engine: APPE3 for CTP built on Adobe's PDF Print Engine (APPE3) platform and giving users the next generation of CTP production
• FlexProof: a task-driven, wizard-style user interface that reportedly makes it simpler to fine-tune and optimize proofer device profiles for the highest possible accuracy;
• i-cut Layout+: Next-Generation Layout Editor.
