Today, brand owners are striving to achieve efficiencies and drive innovation in an increasingly diverse, global and heavily outsourced packaging process. Many stakeholders, combined with an ever increasing number of product variants and markets, makes for a challenging mix. To assist brand owners, Esko is conducting three regional Brand Packaging & Technology Summits.

Guests can register for these free events at:
• October 4: M Club Room at TCF Stadium – University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA, event and stadium tour (Register Now – MN)
• October 12: Founders Brewery, Grand Rapids, MI event and group dinner (Register Now – MI)
• October 20: Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA event and entrance into aquarium (Register Now – GA)

“While Esko has a long-standing heritage with a majority of package printers and converters, as the needs of the packaging supply chain continue to evolve, we are increasingly gaining traction with our packaging solutions directed to brand owners,” explains Joe Eckerle, Esko brand owner director. “More and more brands in fast-moving consumer goods and pharmaceuticals understand the need for efficient solutions to get their packaging from ideation to shelf faster while still avoiding costly errors. Especially with increased regulatory requirements—including the recent changes to the Nutritional Facts Table—there is need for information and guidance. These summits are one way that Esko can help its brand owner customers and contacts.”

While the program will be sponsored by Esko, MediaBeacon (developer of its leading asset management solution), GlobalVision (world leader in the design of innovative proofreading technologies), X-Rite (specialists in providing complete end-to-end color management solutions), and Corbus (experts in leveraging innovative processes and technology), will also participate in some or all of the events.

The full-day agenda will begin with a complete demonstration of brand management solutions, including project briefing, structural packaging development, graphic design development, the merging of 3D structure and graphics, packaging management, automated content and design inspection, project collaboration and approval, and digital asset management.

Due to the particular importance and short timeline for compliance of the recent changes and requirements to the US FDA Nutritional Facts Table, there will be considerable focus on content management and new software to easily create updated FDA nutritional templates on existing packaging.

After lunch, there will be a group discussion about industry challenges and trends (particularly regulatory, social/mobile pressure, supply chain complexities, technology adoption and process standardization). The remainder of the day is reserved for rotating breakout sessions where smaller groups can dive deeper into each solution. Each event will conclude with an informal, social activity.

“Esko integrates a packaging management solution with third party business systems, which allows brand owners to leverage the power of their supply chains,” concludes Eckerle. “At the same time, these enterprises gain visibility and control over their packaging processes. We look forward to demonstrating how our systems truly contribute to cost efficiencies, smooth regulatory compliance and faster time to market.”