116 | Labelexpo Americas 2022 / Workflow and software“LABEL CONVERTERS KNOW THEY NEED TO HAVE AN ONLINE PRESENCE TO PROFIT FROM THIS GROWTH BUT WE’VE HEARD THAT OFTEN THEY DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START”gamut conversions. Pactions is a programmed toolset with action lists, responding to customer needs for advanced automation. It reduces the amount of operator time needed to edit, approve and print a new package design. Also on display was StepZ 8, an interactive software package based on the award-winning technology of PackZ, which allows for the preparation and execution of step-and-repeat and variable data tasks for high-speed digital printing of labels. Hybrid Software Software and workfow exhibitors show advancements in technologyalso presented Cloudfow, SmartDFE and variable data printing throughput and color accuracy, in less time or with fewer resources. technology. According to CEO Mike Rottenborn, cloud-based That’s where the GMG solution range, powered by automation, workfow will be ‘a big push’ for the company over the next year.truly shines.’ Infgo showed how its web-to-print systems can help with Esko demonstrated how its portfolio of hardware and software launching an e-commerce brand and building an online presence in enables businesses to better digitize, automate and connect to as little as 90 days. Through the fctional ice cream brand Scoops, accelerate the go-to-market process of packaged goods. Douglas Gibson, CEO of Infgo, and Greg Young, head of customer Melissa Plemen, senior director of inside sales and marketing at success, dissected everything required for print e-commerce Esko, says: ‘Thanks to cloud-based workfow automation, complete success – from the integrations that provide a seamless customer integration with MIS is possible throughout the entire pre-press experience and printing workfow, to the strategies that improve workfow. So now all processes are connected – from design, editing conversions and enable scale. and color accuracy through to customer feedback and approvals The Infgo platform allows the creation of both B2B and B2C with WebCenter.’ storefronts, supports artwork upload including pre-fighting by The company showcased innovations in ArtPro+ including using Enfocus Pitstop technology, provides pre-designed templates printing unit support and repeat layout creation, as well as folding and shows how to handle full variable data personalization. carton improvements, a new usage dashboard, and enhanced Infgo also demonstrated the Infgo Connect open API, which WebCenter usability features improving ease of use and maximizing syncs orders directly into workfow and MIS systems such as productivity and effciency. Hybrid, Esko, Print IQ, Tharstern, Cerm and Label Traxx. Esko also demonstrated its AVT Helios line, an automatic 100 Young says that often web-to-print is sold as a silver bullet for percent inspection system designed for labels and other narrow label manufacturers. However not every vendor has the integration web printing applications. ‘A market-proven, automatic 100 percent capabilities or professional services experience to help their users inspection solution designed for labels and other narrow web ‘hit the sweet spot’ with web-to-print. printing applications, the Helios system automatically inspects the The company demonstrated how to create a storefront, how printed web for defects and imperfections, delivering exceptional customers can upload and edit their own artwork, how the quality results and eliminating customer rejections,’ adds Plemen. storefront integrates with their MIS and other platforms and the ‘With over 3,000 installations worldwide, Helios instantly identifes strategies that are required to push and scale the brand. defects on labels as soon as they occur, reducing waste, boosting Label Traxx launched Version 9.0 of its workfow software performance, and delivering 100 percent quality assurance.’ at the show. In response to ongoing industry consolidation, the ‘Esko has developed full end-to-end workfow solutions for Enterprise Edition offers a set of capabilities designed to serve the the digital printing of labels, from ideation through to inspection. requirements of multi-site organizations for the frst time. The Adopting these integrated hardware and software solutions company demonstrated new CRM features with the Customer serves to digitize, automate and connect workfows, systems and Service suite, including Rapid Quoting. The recently-added processes in label businesses, delivering the clearest beneft in Inventory Forecast Tool provides the operations team insights and meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow,’ concludes Plemen. alternatives to respond to supply chain challenges in real-time from EyeC featured a wide range of systems, including live demos its Automated Planning & Scheduling Suite. Also announced were of ProofRunner 100 percent print inspection technology, available new subscription plans and cloud-hosting alternatives.for presses and rewinders with up to 68in (1.70m) web width. The Meteor Inkjet, part of Hybrid Software Group, showed its system features new options to improve inspection performance portfolio of industrial products for labels and packaging, including a on challenging raw materials and complex services. On display were range of drive electronics for all major industrial inkjet printheads; also two EyeC Proofler print sample inspection systems for sample ready-to-use digital front ends and workfow systems; software sizes up to 50 x 36in (1,270 x 915mm). development kits allowing custom printers to be built from the The company demonstrated its cloud-based artwork ground up; and a complete suite of tools and services to support proofreading software EyeC ProofText and the EyeC Proofler machine builders in the design and optimization of print systems.Graphic, which automatically matches the entire content of OneVision showed its Label Automation Suite, which combines print-ready fles or step-and-repeat fles to the approved artwork production planning with print fle optimization. The intuitive when integrated into a workfow system. user interface allows label printers to control and monitor their Hybrid Software Group showed version 8 of PackZ, its native production. All production steps are mapped as a ‘digital job ticket’ PDF editor. Enhancements include complex layered artwork that in the software. Incoming print fles are automatically checked by can now be viewed in color and wired modes simultaneously, and more than 130 criteria. Detected errors are automatically corrected object-based screenings can be inspected per separation. The Smart and the fles are optimized for the individual requirements of the Flattener guarantees artwork quality and consistency, professionally label production. Among other things, the software performs the managing spot color and transparency interactions as well as press following corrections: creation of bleed and white/varnish masks, labelsandlabeling.com