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Esko Software release 22.11

The latest version of Esko’s powerful modular tool set for packaging and label production, says Simon Eccles

solutions, and so pricing is quoted on an
individual basis.
Esko Release 22.11 is a free update,
available to users at no extra cost pro-
vided a maintenance contract is in place.

How does it work?
The Esko modular software suite incor-
porates a number of hands-on and auto-
mated background processing
applications. User companies will tend to
have some but not all the components,
with individual operators handling some
but not all of these.
The main applications are grouped into
What does it do? Target markets remain the packaging core operating categories. Packaging and
This is the latest version 22.11 of the and labels sectors, especially folding car- display structure creation is handled by
Esko Software suite. Widely used in the tons and corrugated, labels and flexible ArtiosCAD (structural design for car-
packaging and labels sectors, it is a modu- packaging, where existing users will tons); Studio (3D design); and Store
lar group of complementary applications Specifications receive the 22.11 update as part of their Visualizer (photorealistic previewing in
centred on all stages of design and pre- Description: An service agreements. According to Jan De
press, with increasing automation and extensive modular Roeck, marketing director for industrial realistic locations). Job management is
emphasis on supply chain collaboration. suite of applica- relations and strategy at Esko, the latest handled by WebCenter (management of
Modules can run on either local servers tions, covering con- release “makes it easier for packaging job specification, approval and lifecycle);
and workstations or can be accessed tent and structural companies to connect people and pro- and Share & Approve (collaborative
online as SaaS. Esko claims to have the design and pre- cesses, to access data, automate opera- approval including 3D soft proofs).
tions and to drive operational efficiency.”
largest SaaS platform in packaging, used press for folding Are there performance increases?
by “more than 35 leading global brands cartons, corrugated Yes, mainly through the increased auto- Packaging and label pre-press includes
boxes and display,
with more than 30,000 users and mil- flexible packaging mation. De Roeck says this “makes it eas- ArtPro+ (native PDF editing); DeskPack
lions of transactions each month”. and labels ier for packaging companies to connect (a set of bidirectional plugins for Adobe
Esko is based in Ghent, Belgium, and is its people and processes, to access data, Illustrator and Photoshop including
owned by the US Danaher Corporation, Platform: Modules automate operations and to drive opera- design and variable data); Dynamic
alongside other print-related developers that can run on tional efficiency.”
AVT, Videojet and X-Rite Pantone. It local or cloud serv- Content (separately editable text for late-
claims to have more than 25,000 custom- ers, plus specialised How is it supplied? stage changes); Plato (layout creation);
ers in 140 countries and that “packaging plug-ins for Adobe The Esko software can be supplied to Imaging Engine (Rip); Automation
Illustrator and
for nine out of 10 major brands is pro- Photoshop run on local servers or remotely in the Engine (workflow with MIS integration);
duced by our customers.” cloud as SaaS. Dynamic Subscriptions are Colour Engine (colour management);
a major new feature of V22.11. This is a
When was it launched and what is the cloud-based licensing system that covers and Equinox (spot colour to CMYK or
market? extended gamut ink set separations).
a flexible team of named operators who
The global announcement date was 9 can be on different sites. Previously There is new multi-MIS support in
November. Esko currently updates the licenses were confined to either numbers Automation Engine SaaS and new con-
software three times each year; of seats, or within sites. Existing licen- figuration tools in WebCenter. Flexo
Printweek has looked at this version in sees can switch to Dynamic
particular because it incorporates new AI Subscriptions if they wish to. automation gains PlateID automatic
layout features developed by Tilia Labs, The software platform is modular, ena- placement and nested merging in the
which the company acquired in January. bling customers to pick and choose their Flexo Engine.
“The global announcement date was 9 November.”

30 PrintWeek MENA February 2023 www.printweekmena.com