Esko and X-Rite captivated visitors at Labelexpo

Esko and X-Rite Pantone reported a successful exhibition at Labelexpo in Brussels, captivating the crowds with their integrated workflows, optimum plate quality and sustainability initiatives.  

Spotlighting the latest prepress software developments, new innovations in print inspection and color quality assurance, as well as the quality and sustainability certification of its flexo platemaking system, the companies’ booth in Hall 3 was packed throughout the four-day event. 

Jan De Roeck, Esko director of marketing, industry relations and strategy, said: ‘This year’s Labelexpo gave us an opportunity to show how Esko and X-Rite Pantone are helping the packaging and label industry consistently achieve top performance throughout the entire chain from concept to market. With team members joining us from product and technical departments around the world, we were able to deliver several demonstrations each day that clearly illustrated the incredible efficiency and productivity gains of an automated and integrated end-to-end ecosystem. We also showcased how new color management software and color measurement solutions are supporting digital workflows to increase efficiency, enhance sustainability, and drive growth opportunities – messages that clearly resonated with the expo visitors.’  

Throughout the event, visitors saw innovations such as Phoenix - Esko’s AI-based tool that unlocks planning and imposition productivity improvements – and the new AVT AutoSet Digital and Varnish inspection solutions.  

The team demonstrated how Helios System automatically inspects printed labels or packages for defects and with Esko’s WorkFlow Link software, label converters can ensure 100 percent quality of the inspected rolls upon delivery to the brand customer, regardless of the post-press finishing workflow. 

Visitors also saw how the X-Rite ecosystem of color measurement helps optimize a print workflow, from formulation through quality control. Booth visitors experienced how X-Rite eXact 2 is becoming the versatile, connected, and easy-to-use color measurement device in a printer’s toolbox. With a digital color workflow, customers are one step closer to achieving their sustainability goals with digital color communication, faster approvals, and real-time quality control reporting. 

‘We were also proudly displaying our award-winning CDI Crystal XPS 4835, which uses LED UV main and back exposure to produce highly consistent digital flexo plates while minimizing waste and delivering exceptional quality results and reducing environmental impact,’ said De Roeck. ‘Using significantly less energy than traditional mercury UV plate exposure units - just 59W in idle mode, compared to the bank light table's 2kW when idle - the XPS Crystal avoids peak energy consumption associated with heating up bulbs during UV exposure. And most importantly, the technology also produces no hazardous waste, making it the highly sustainable and eco-friendly choice for the future.’ 

The companies continued to deliver this message of digitalization and sustainability outside the confines of their own displays at this year’s Labelexpo. Not only were a number of partner booths using their hardware and software as part of a wide-ranging partner program, but the company also underlined its commitment to sustainability and automation through leading exciting future-focused presentations and discussion in the expo’s Automation Arena, and with its Flexible Packaging Masterclass training program. 

‘That was really the key takeaway from Labelexpo,’ said De Roeck. ‘With sustainability and digitalization fundamentally altering how the industry operates, it is clearly essential that today’s label and packaging companies invest in digital workflow technology that enables them to boost efficiency, reduce costs and improve their overall productivity.’