Eshuis (Dalfsen, The Netherlands) - Integration of Esko's Software Suite with HP Indigo.

Hybrid workflow needed for digital printing
Eshuis (Dalfsen, The Netherlands), specialists in web-fed self-adhesive labels and packaging, have been working since the early '90s with hardware and software, first from Barco, and then from Esko. At first, the company didn't need a combined workflow for the two printing processes – namely flexo and offset. The arrival of two digital HP Indigo presses in 2003 led to major changes at the company. Hans Poortinga, Eshuis' technical printing specialist, explains: "This meant we started working with HP Indigo's YTD (Yours Truly Designer) Workflow. And because of this, we would be dealing with different workflows, according to the process used: YTD for the digital, and Esko's workflow for offset and flexo. The biggest drawback with this, was that we had to archive our files in two places, and in several different ways. We'd save it first for conventional printing, then again for digital. And because of that, we'd be making corrections in two different places. Not only did it mean extra work and costs, it greatly increased the chance of mistakes being made!"

The Esko Software Suite solves the problem
The Esko Software Suite workflow proved the perfect answer to the problem. In fact, Mr. Poortinga is still quite taken aback by the host of opportunities that Esko's Software Suite gives, in terms of automating and speeding up the whole process of print preparation."Take for example, digital printing a full-colour file with two PMS colours," he says. "Before the Esko Software Suite arrived, if the PMS colour-composition looked poor, we'd have to go back to prepress, to correct the percentages in the file. Now, in the Esko Software Suite workflow, we simply send the file through and the PMS composition is retrieved from a table. Even if this doesn't work out, we just need to make one change in the table, and after that, getting our customers' required PMS spot-on, is simplicity itself."

BackStage reduces the work
At Eshuis, the Esko BackStage module standardises a number of processes, thus reducing the work burden. The output possibilities are numerous. With just one job ticket, three or four executions can be made, including the Iris proof-printer and the PDF proofmaking. An important criterion for the company was the ability to link with the CDI flexo plate exposure unit. Esko's software is ideally suited for this. The Esko FlexRip enjoys a very good reputation at Eshuis, too. Experience has taught the company that it achieves superior printing quality, especially when it is used for reproducing small and diapositive text.

Workflow and colour management streamline prepress
With the 'hybrid' Esko Software Suite workflow, Eshuis' prepress department can make the correct files at a very early stage. "When a new order comes in, we try to determine, before it goes to prepress, whether it should be printed conventionally or digitally," says Poortinga. "The name of the game is to change processes as little as possible, even though it doesn't cause workflow problems anymore."

Colour management plays a very important role at this point. In Esko's Kaleidoscope software, Eshuis prepares profiles for printing with different print-methods. The software also allows 'standard corrections' to be introduced to the colour tables for various materials. "Flexo tends to give process colours a somewhat 'fuller' and 'messier' print than offset or digital," explains Poortinga. "But when you take the colour management into account at that stage, you don't need to make further changes during printing."

The company takes a great deal of interest in Esko's future technological developments, especially in JDF. "In our case, it is yet another step forward because, from the calculations, we can determine which print process should be used for every order. And because everything is seamlessly linked together in a JDF workflow, the chance of mistakes occuring is dramatically reduced," concludes Poortinga.

Unique Esko benefits for Eshuis

• Lower percentage of errors: there are fewer corrections, so the chance of errors occurring is reduced.
• Higher productivity: in spite of the rising number of orders – especially small ones – Eshuis can carry out more jobs with fewer people.
• Better quality: with FlexRip, printing quality is higher, especially in the case of small and diapositive text.
• Easier colour processing: constructing PMS-colours can now be standardised, and in the colour tables, a standard correction process can be introduced for different printing methods.