Graphispag 07 Generates Strong Sales Results for Esko

Sales interest was also high for the company's CDI Spark, Esko DCM and the Esko packaging software suite.

24/03/07 Esko, the market leader in packaging pre-production solutions, reported that its participation at Graphispag 2007 resulted in exceptionally strong sales activity that exceeded the company’s expectations. During Graphispag, held in Barcelona from February 19th to 25th, Esko signed a record number of sales contracts for its Kongsberg tables. Sales interest was also high for the company's CDI Spark, Esko DCM and the Esko packaging software suite. On the average, over 50 qualified sales leads were generated on a daily basis throughout the show. Esko benefited from maximum visibility during Graphispag, thanks to the collaborative efforts of its industrial and commercial partners who presented Esko solutions at their stands: DuPont, HP, Agfa and Lacor.

"Esko’s leadership in the packaging pre-production market segment, combined with our partners’ efforts, contributed to our very successful sales results at Graphispag 07,” stated Jordi Quera Esko Sales Manager Iberia. “We believe that the high level of interest, and resulting sales commitments that were finalized at the show, confirms that we are on track with providing the right solutions to meet the needs of our customer base in Spain."

Armand Gougay, Esko's Vice-President Sales and Marketing, concurred: "The tremendous response exceeded all of our expectations in both sales and lead generation. We are enthusiastic about the excellent customer response to Esko's solutions at Graphispag 2007 and will leverage this interest to further expand our growth in the Spanish market.”

Digital Graphic was one of many customers who invested in a Kongsberg table. Luis Mulero, company founder, has searched for a versatile solution that offered precision and high quality results for his demanding finishing requirements. He compared other offerings on the market but only the Kongsberg offered an exceptional match of technical capabilities and cost-effectiveness. "We could plainly see that the Esko Kongsberg is a superior offering and its integration with Esko ArtiosCAD was a very important factor in our decision," said Mulero. "ArtiosCAD saves an incredible amount of time. The combination of these two solutions is certain to dramatically increase our level of quality and service." Mulero noted that the new Kongsberg can handle his diverse finishing requirements: "from cutting and milling 2 cm rigid materials like PVC, up to 'soft' materials like vinyl or polyester. Now, the only limits are our imagination or that of our customers – thanks to Esko, we can handle the most complex or creative packaging job."

Cooperative partnerships deliver success

Esko shared its booth with DuPont to provide briefings and demos about Esko’s innovative packaging software suite including Esko ArtiosCAD, the Esko CDI Spark 4260, DuPont Cyrel Fast and Kongsberg i-XL24. Esko had an active presence with HP, Esko’s partner for the digital label printing market. The two companies presented a combined solution featuring Esko’s Scope and HP Indigo digital label presses. Agfa and Esko have a global reseller agreement in place that allows Agfa to sell Esko’s DeskPack and Plato pre-press software to the packaging market. This dynamic synergy attracted numerous visitors and sales queries at Agfa's stand. Lacor, Esko’s Spanish distributor for CAD/CAM, demonstrated the Esko Kongsberg XL44 on their stand and handled a steady stream of sales queries. Lasa Trokel, an Esko customer who is currently using the Esko Kongsberg XE10, explained how the table has delivered return on investment.

Presented at the show were:

Esko packaging software suite

Esko’s innovative packaging software suite, features a wide range of powerful tools for structural design, graphic design, one-up editing, sheet layout, workflow management and collaboration, color management and output control. The latest version features seamless interaction between CAD and graphic production utilities and standardizes PDF as the native file format throughout the entire Esko workflow. It includes web collaboration facilities and on-line review and approval capabilities. Tools for easy installation and on-line monitoring facilitate customer support and ensure reliable operation.

Esko ArtiosCAD 7

ArtiosCAD version 7, Esko’s component for structural design, is a tool for conceptual design, product development, and ‘live’ prototyping. It offers full import / export support for SolidWorks 3D CAD files. ArtiosCAD users can work directly with SolidWorks models, creating a seamless workflow between SolidWorks and ArtiosCAD. Complete 3D CAD integration allows for quick prototyping of designs and presentations, eliminating communication errors and reducing design review cycles. ArtiosCAD 7 supports carton specifications for a complete range of packaging materials (folding carton, corrugated board, plastics, foam, etc.)

Esko Kongsberg tables

The Esko Kongsberg XL and XE series of die-less cutting and creasing tables for packaging applications are the benchmark in their kind for reliability and productivity. They deliver record-breaking productivity and versatility, and are the industry’s most cost-effective machines, loaded with unique features that save time and boost sample quality.

The Kongsberg i-XL integrates the Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering (MGE) i-cut vision system and complements digital printing of sign and displays with a unique finishing solution for the widest range of materials, providing automation, high productivity and outstanding precision.

Esko CDI (Cyrel Digital Imager)

Esko’s range of CDI Imaging Devices span the entire range for flexo printing applications: from narrow web label printing to wide format corrugated printing, from one color printed corrugated boxes to highly sophisticated security printing.

The Esko CDI Spark 4260 addresses the highest quality flexo applications, primarily in the flexible packaging and folding carton markets, with inroads also in corrugated. With its larger size plates and impressive productivity, with an entry-level price tag, this device fits the demands of tradeshops and converters.

The DuPont Cyrel FAST features dry thermal technology for plate development, completely eliminating the need for solvents,, while reducing plate processing times by up to 300%. It is an ideal investment for trade shops that require a high volume of plates in varying sizes. This new system retains all of the benefits of the smaller Cyrel FAST 1000TD, producing a high quality finished plate in less than one hour.