Product category:
Printing Pre-Press Systems and Materials (Repro, Platemakers, CTP, Workflow, Document Management, Design Software, etc.)
News Release from: EskoArtwork | Subject: Esko's Backstage, CERM LabelXpro MIS
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 01 November 2007
Pre-Press Workflow Tackles Common Label
Problems
French label printer 5/7 Etiquette has installed an automated pre-press workflow that features a JDF connection between Esko's Backstage and LabelXpro, CERM's management information system (MIS).
The joint workflow system at 5/7 Etiquette in Courthezon, which prints labels for the wine, food and healthcare industry, immediately reduced production times The company deploys flexo printing, as well as waterless offset and has used EskoArtwork systems from the start
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 14 Aug 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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LabelXpro tackles common problems in the label industry, such as a dedicated module for estimating for labels, management of diecuts and scheduling, for example.
As 5/7 Etiquette grew, Michele Wack, co-owner and production manager, began looking for an MIS that was suitable for the label printing industry.
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Wack was dissatisfied with standard software on the market until she met with CERM at Labelexpo Europe 2005, said EskoArtwork.
Michele Wack explained: "The CERM system was very complete and had all the necessary tools required for the label industry such as step and repeat, re-use of existing die-cuts, cost price calculation and automatically generated quotations.
The same data was also used for the generation of product catalogues, jobs and the electronic planning, without having to repeatedly re-keying the same information.
It was clear to me that LabelXpro would be our single centralised system, enabling us to perform all the necessary tasks a label printer requires." The installation of LabelXpro immediately provided increased time savings, but adding a JDF connection between it and Esko's Backstage ensured maximum productivity at 5/7 Etiquette, said the company.
Consulting teams from EskoArtwork and CERM developed a plan to gradually increase the automation of different production processes to avoid any disruption in the company's busy production cycle.
The new JDF connection ensures the transfer of customer information, job name, colour usage, step and repeat information and barcodes to Esko Backstage.
The JMF link, which provides automatic feedback from Esko Backstage, makes it possible to do a visual check of labels and die-cuts in LabelXpro.
Other useful information, such as colours extracted from the PDF-file, proof ready and proof approved at product level, and imposition ready and plates ready at job level, are also relayed from Esko Backstage.
According to Patrick Wack, general manager at 5/7 Etiquette, the JDF connection has made a world of difference at the company.
A streamlined workflow has increased productivity with the added benefit of creating a more efficient work environment for 5/7 Etiquette's 40 employees.
He explained: "The JDF connection has resulted in some dramatic improvements.
We see a lot less stress in the print shop since we can organise our planning in a much more efficient way.
We used to work with spreadsheets in the planning department but today everything is handled by LabelXpro.
It took some adjustment but the phased approach gave us the necessary time to streamline our internal organisation." Based on the success of the new JDF-based workflow automation, 5/7 Etiquette's owners are continuing to make technical innovations, said Esko.
Stock management is handled via EPSMA codes and electronic machine counters on the presses.
Implementation of an electronic packing list is planned for the fourth quarter of this year.
Peter Dhondt, the senior consultant at Cerm commented: "5/7 Etiquette has a strong focus on internal organisation and efficiency, an aspect that often is forgotten as companies start growing.
The JDF-link between Esko Backstage and LabelXpro is a functional system to a daily problem in the label industry.
This JDF connection provides an immediate return on investment." Wim Delagrange, EskoArtwork's product manager for Backstage, said: "We are very pleased with the positive feedback from 5/7 Etiquette, because without its cooperation we could not have accomplished the installation in such a short time.
The company's satisfaction makes it a win-win project and it validates that integrating a JDF connection with LabelXpro and Backstage creates an advanced automated workflow that is suited to the production demands of the label market.".
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