For the 32nd time, Esko hosted its annual users conference, EskoWorld. From May 23-25, 2023, more than 500 attendees gathered in Orlando, FL, USA, for education, networking, and hands-on demos of Esko’s latest prepress software. Packaging for 9 out of 10 leading consumer brands is produced by Esko’s customers, the company noted.

The event featured a dedicated brand track, too, covering a wide range of topics, from color management to regulation deep dives. Esko also featured an Exhibitor Showcase, as representatives from a wide range of brand partners, from Bobst and HP to CERM and Corbus, were available to discuss their latest product offerings.

“Consumers are constantly seeking new ways to experience a brand,” said Matt Haws, chief marketing officer, Esko. “Here at EskoWorld, we’re exploring how the brands can keep up with consumer demand.”

Plus, Esko introduced its new president, John Edison, to the North American label and package printing industry. A mechanical engineer and software developer by trade. Edison has his sights set on artificial intelligence, data and analytics in catapulting the industry into the future.

“We in the packaging industry are at an inflection point,” said Edison, who has also worked for HP and Oracle. “There are major trends and factors shaping where we are today and where we’re going to be. We want to be the company that inspires and fulfills creative, sustainable and safe packaging that delivers brand and product differentiation on physical and digital shelves.

“I’m excited about what we can do together to take our industry to the next level,” added Edison.

Esko’s latest product releases have targeted intelligent automation and the use of data analytics to remove waste from numerous points throughout a workflow. Waste can occur in both time and material usage. The efficiency must also extend to an omni-channel environment.

Connectivity must extend throughout a pressroom, and, in many cases, multiple facilities, as well. Esko has geared its products, from Automation Engine to ArtiosCAD, to accommodate the latest trends in label printing.

“In labels particularly, you see presses getting faster and faster, with demand for faster and shorter runs,” said Geert De Proost, director of product management, Esko. “But it takes more shorter runs to fill these machines. There is a discussion about how you get maximum value out of your press. And the best way to do that is automate all your processes.”

“Our solutions are all about getting the product faster to market without compromise,” added Jan De Roeck, marketing director, Esko. “For Esko, it is a very important competitive differentiator that we focus on providing solutions for packaging converters and printers, helping them become more efficient and removing waste out of their production processes.”

Sustainability also took center stage at EskoWorld. Most recently, Esko XPS Crystal achieved GreenCircle certification. In addition, a recent survey of 24 converters showed 10% less solvent waste, 5% less plate waste, and 28,350 gallons of solvent saved by using Esko’s FlexoEngine.

“Environmental sustainability cannot be mere words anymore,” remarked Edison. “We are going to need to move from words to action to deliver an outcome that is reportable and measurable. This activity is only going to accelerate.”

According to Jijo Dominic, Esko’s VP of product management, brands are dealing with a host of challenges. Omnichannel shopping, changing consumer behavior, margin pressures, sustainability, and the digital transformation are a few of the concerns reported by brands.

“Nearly a quarter of brands say that extending content strategies to packaging is a top challenge in content creation for e-commerce,” noted Dominic. “Our customers have reported cost savings with various Esko tools. For example, WebCenter reduces approval loops – as a single loop reduction can be translated to roughly $1 million.

Take care and ‘Share’
During the event, Esko also touted the benefits of its Share & Approve tool. According to Esko, this cloud-based tool can shorten approval cycles by 3x by allowing users to upload, share, annotate and approve packaging and labels in 3D. With intricate designs on labels packaging, more complexity often translates to more touchpoints.

“This is a great piece of technology that allows collaboration, and it’s really quite simple to use,” noted Edison. “Our goal is to drive adoption, especially for smaller and mid-market companies that might not generally have the funds to invest in these connected capabilities.”

“This can be the first step into a digital transformation without being too daunting,” added Haws.

The approval process can often be a source of costly production delays. In order to promote efficiency for converters of every size, Esko is offering a complimentary tier of this service.
Esko users simply need to drag and drop their files to share them with colleagues and customers.

“We’re trying to promote a lower hurdle of adoption,” said De Proost. “We’re providing a free tier to everyone, whether they’re Esko customers or not. We really want to try to get people to communicate in a digital fashion.”