Esko, a global supplier of integrated solutions for packaging industry, has opened a new flexo platemaking facility in Itzehoe, Germany.
Image: Esko has opened new flexo platemaking facility in Itzehoe. Photo: courtesy of Esko.
The Itzehoe facility has consolidated the firm’s flexo platemaking business under one roof, including research, engineering, product development, testing and production.
The 4300m² facility includes complete customer experience center, which enables customers to meet with industry partners to gather technical and business details regarding flexography.
Esko’s plant manager Holger Jacobsen said: “We have been extremely pleased with the entire process, from the laying of the first stone through to the move and start-up of production in this brand-new facility.
“Everyone – from the architect and builder to all of our suppliers and staff – worked together to achieve a challenging schedule. It’s a modern environment, a great workplace for our staff, and a welcoming setting where we will host many visitors in the future.”
The Itzehoe facility will also demonstrate the entire flexo platemaking eco-system, including design and prepress, color management, flexo plate preparation, imaging and exposure and cutting plates ready for mounting on the printing press.
Esko will assemble the major flexo plate imaging devices CDI Crystal and CDI Spark and changing flexo plate exposure systems such as XPS Crystal at the new facility.
The new facility has been developed to meet the business and production requirements of its digital flexo business.
Esko president Udo Panenka said: “In recent years, the industry has continued to applaud innovations out of Itzehoe, such as the award winning XPS Crystal systems for UV exposure of flexo plates, which set a new standard of quality, consistency and productivity.”
Esko portfolio enables brand owners to manage the go to market process, while packaging suppliers to manage the production process.
Esko’s software platform is helpful in the project management, artwork creation, structural design, prepress, 3D visualization, workflow automation, quality assurance, palletization, supply chain collaboration and approval.
The firm’s Blue software has been designed for label and artwork management, and MediaBeacon si for digital asset management.