PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Esko ArtPro+ Packaging Editorready for production

Next generation of leading packaging editor defines new standard for ease of use and automation

ArtPro+, the successor of the world’s leading packaging and labels prepress editor ArtPro,is ready to moveprepress production to the next level

Ghent (Belgium), June 06, 2018– Esko ( today announced a major newrelease of its packaging and labels prepress editor, ArtPro+. Built on decades of experience – with over 25.000 Esko prepress editors currently in use– this latest version is designed to fit the needs of today’s prepress production.

ArtPro+ is part of the Esko Software Platform 2018, the latest version of Esko’s market-leading portfolio of integrated software solutions for design, prepress, workflow automation, color management andsupply chain collaboration in the packaging, labels, display and sign markets.

The fastest prepress editor in the industry

With this version of ArtPro+, prepress operations complete the editing work 40% faster. This new version of ArtPro+ requires fewer clicks to complete tasks, features faster opening and saving of files with native PDF, and has faster trapping.

As IsidoreLeiser, CEO of French label converter Stratus Packaging, confirms: “The majority of the PDF artwork we receive today is processed through ArtPro+. It works just great to run our prepress production: we measured an increase in productivityand improved our service and customer satisfaction. The very fast Trapping tool, Preflight and Action Lists are just a few of the unique features we use a lot. And what’s more, it isverysimple to use. The implementation was really easy– as new operators didn’t need much training time. Last but not least, ArtPro+ is seamlessly integrated with the Eskopackaging management platform WebCenter, where our customers can connect, review and approve the artwork,significantly improving delivery time.”

Built for Automation

ArtPro+ is built bottom-up with automation in mind. Most label and packaging tasks today can be automated using the prepress editor for quality assurance and exception handling tasks. Not only can ArtPro+ be run through Esko’s Automation Engine, tasks can now also be highly simplified through automation within the editor,without any need for scripting.

Automation not only dramatically improves production speed, but it also further drives down the risk of human errors.The combination of the new ArtPro+ and Automation Engine givesprint service providers and label and packaging converters the solution they need to effectively deal with the faster turnaround times and ever-shortening print runs that have become common in today’s printing and converting environment.

Key new features

The new release includes three new feature updates that are unique in the marketplace and key to operator productivity:

  • Operators can build PDF Action Listswithout any special know-how or IT skills:Do it once in the editor and then repeat many times to cope with repetitive tasks. This automated action can be done by anyone and gives every operator a productivity boost at their fingertips.
  • Searching and managing fonts locally for the many different designs the operators are working on takes a lot of time and creates one of the biggest risks for errors. With a new font management connector for ArtPro+, everyone can now have immediate access to the fonts needed, when needed, to achieve quality output for designs. Other than Adobe, this integration with Extensis Universal Type Server is unique in the industry. As a result, prepress professionals can make real-time edits to fix critical, last-minute text changes, reducing expensive print errors and costly press delays.
  • In other prepress editors, output for specific purposes, such as proof, reporting, production and finishing, require a variant of the master file. ArtPro+ is the only editor that uses the intelligence of structural design inside the editor. ArtPro+ leverages the intelligence of the CAD data to maintain only a single file for all output purposes, eliminating file duplication, errors, and the need for redundant tasks.The benefit is that everything is kept together in one file – the same file that is usedto drive output.

Practical Information

ArtPro+ will be commercially available with the release of Esko Software Platform version 18 in June2018. All ArtPro and PackEdge customers under maintenance contract worldwide are entitled to free upgrades to the ArtPro+ 18 version.The new ArtPro+ release can also be tried through the Esko store 30 days free of charge (

To simplify the adoption process, Esko plans a series of events, roadshows and training webinars to train customers on the new ArtPro +version, beginning with EskoWorld in San Antonio (June5-7).

For more information and demonstration movies on ArtPro+ visit:

About Stratus Packaging

The Stratus Packaging group is one of the leaders in the European printed label manufacturing sector. With 290 employees and a turnover of € 46.5 million, Stratus provides guidance and counselling from concept creation to the realization of its customers labeling and soft packaging needs (self-adhesive labels, sleeves, IML, etc.).

With 5 manufacturing units, the Stratus Packaging industrial group sought the most efficient organizational structurewhile maintaining each site’s culture and identity. Stratus expanded its portfolio and now offers a range of product packaging designs that ranks amongst the widest on the market.

The size, innovation and customer service make it an interesting supplier of labels, sleeves and IML labels for the European market. Stratus Packaging has invested in new equipment and software in order to address the challenges of tomorrow by being both attentive to the market trends and to its customers.

About Esko(

Packaging Simplified. Esko helps its customers to make the best packaging for billions of consumers.

The Esko product portfolio supports and manages the packaging and print processes for brand owners, retailers, designers, premedia and trade shops, packaging manufacturers, and converters. For 9 out of 10 retail packages, Esko solutions are used in packaging management, asset management, artwork creation, structural design, prepress, 3D visualization, flexo plate making, workflow automation, quality assurance, sample-making, palletization, supply chain collaboration and/or the production of signage and displays.

The Esko solutions consist of an extensive suite of software and two hardware product lines: CDI flexo computer-to-plate imagers and exposure units as well as Kongsberg digital cutting systems, complemented with professional services, training and consultancy.

Enfocus, with its suite of automation solutions and PDF quality control tools for printers, publishers, and graphic designers, is an Esko subsidiary. MediaBeacon, with its digital asset management (DAM) solutions is also part of the Esko family.

Esko employs about 1,500 people worldwide. Headquartered in Gent (Belgium), its sales and service organization is in daily contact with customers all over the globe.

Esko is a Danaher company (

Follow Esko on . For more information, visit or contact:

P.R. agencies
Corporate and EMEA
Dorien Cooreman
duomedia
Tel.: +32 2 560 21 50

Americas
Irvin Press
Press+
Tel: +1 508 384 0608
/ Esko
Corporate
Jef Stoffels
Director Corporate Marketing
Tel: +32 9 216 90 32

EMEA
Bruno Vermeulen
EMEA Marketing Manager
Tel: +32 9 2169309

North America
Melissa Metzler
Director of Marketing
Tel: +1 937-535-6120

All press releases, as well as corresponding product pictures, are available at the press section at

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