Cyber Graphics has turned to Esko in an effort to streamline its business operations. Beyond eliminating monotonous tasks by utilizing production automation, the workflow will also import MIS data to streamline production. With limited staff, Cyber Graphics’ facility in Milwaukee has increased productivity and reduced errors with the help of Esko Automation Engine.

Established in 1994 in Memphis, TN, USA, Cyber Graphics is a privately owned pre-media and media provider, currently employing over 110 people at four North American sites.

The Cyber Graphics facility in Milwaukee, WI offers flexo prepress and technical support. The company recently moved its facility in the suburb of Franklin into a newly remodeled office space in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.

In the past, Cyber Graphics Milwaukee had worked with Esko tools to manually complete its projects. For example,it would manually create legends on proofs, but that resulted in a double entry of information. Customer service would enter customer and job information on the job ticket, and prepress operators would retype the information—including copy and color swatches—in Adobe Illustrator. “We are all human,” notes Steven Parato, operations manager—Milwaukee, Cyber Graphics. “With one keystroke, the customer could be looking at a legend that was incorrect.”

Cyber Graphics wanted to automate but did not want to be handed a specific workflow for the solution. The company wanted the tools and flexibility to modify and form its own customized workflows. Cyber Graphics also wanted to streamline the processes, eliminating many of the different workflows that were going in different directions—a common workflow with the same logic from beginning to end. Therefore, it decided to invest in Esko Automation Engine and supporting Esko tools.

“At the time we started working with Automation Engine,” remembers Parato, “one of our largest customers represented a good portion our work. They would often submit artwork at 4pm, and required us to turn around the prepress work and plates the next day. We had to figure a way to get it done. We created a complete automated workflow just for them. That started us into automation.”

Since it automated production, Cyber Graphics has condensed its processes into a few workflows and has been more productive. “We have removed many redundant tasks,” comments Parato. “The user interface in Automation Engine also has been easy for me to use. Building a workflow is not complicated. We don’t have to do any programming or manually enter tasks. Everything ‘behind the scenes’ is easy to use.

“We wanted the process to launch the workflow and pick a 1-up,” he adds. “Automation Engine automatically creates a file folder when a job is launched and builds the folder structure as the project progresses. Our artists still set traps and pullbacks with Esko DeskPack. Once the 1-up artwork is complete, Automation Engine sets up the step and repeat layouts and rasterizes all the PDFs for the platesetters. These tasks let our operators focus on more important work. We have not needed to bring on more resources. Instead, our small staff focuses on doing more with what we have. It saves time and eliminates monotony.”