Esko shows latest innovations at Loupe Americas

Esko will showcase its latest innovations designed to help packaging converters shorten time-to-market while maintaining quality, efficiency and sustainability across both pre-press and production workflows throughout the entire packaging value chain at Loupe Americas 2026. 

From 15-17 September, the global provider of integrated technology that accelerates the go-to-market of packaged goods will be at Chicago’s Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, with a focus on how its Spec-to-Pack strategy serves to unlock value upstream in the packaging process. 

‘We are excited to showcase our Spec-to-Pack strategy, which helps brands and converters accelerate packaging development, improve collaboration and reduce errors from concept through to finished pack,' said Jan De Roeck, Esko director of marketing, strategy and industry relations.

‘The Esko ecosystem connects packaging specification, artwork management, prepress and print production in a single, integrated workflow. By eliminating disconnected processes and manual handoffs, it helps brands and converters significantly accelerate time-to-market through boosting packaging development, improving collaboration and reducing errors from concept through to finished pack.’ 

‘At Loupe, we will not only give demonstrations of how our integrated cloud and SaaS solutions achieve this but also how new AI-induced capabilities improve efficiency of the operator at several instances across the prepress workflow. As we continue to reinforce the importance of an integrated workflow, we are exhibiting in Chicago alongside our partners X-Rite - who will demonstrate their latest color innovations – and Pantone, who are showcasing their PMS Formula Guides and ‘universal language of color’ tools,’ added De Roeck. 

Leading the Esko hardware highlights is the new XPS Spark 4835, a flexo plate LED exposure unit that replaces traditional UV tube banks, delivering up to 80 percent lower energy consumption while eliminating mercury and the need for tube replacement. Esko will also demonstrate Quartz Thermal Screens, extending the proven performance of Quartz screening technology to thermal plate production and enabling gravure-like print quality across solvent, water and thermal-based applications. 

On the software side, WebCenter Pack will take center stage, showcasing automated job onboarding, instant preflight feedback, templated specifications, no-login file uploads, integrated approvals and version control. Together with Flexo Front End+, which can reduce file preparation times by as much as 50 percent, these innovations demonstrate how Esko is helping packaging converters deliver faster, smarter and more connected production workflows, the company reported.

‘Traditionally, flexographic platemaking has relied on a collection of separate technologies, from RIPs and screening software to calibration tools and manual production steps. Managing these independently can introduce unnecessary complexity, increase setup time, and make it more difficult to achieve consistent, repeatable results,’ said De Roeck. 

‘We are excited that Loupe visitors will have the chance to see first-hand how the new XPS Spark, Quartz Thermal Screens and Flexo Front End+ combine essential capabilities to enable platemakers to simplify production, minimize manual intervention and deliver reliable, high-quality results more quickly.’ 

Esko will also be collaborating with a number of partners to bring the interactive Label Trail to Loupe Americas 2026. A unique, guided tour that takes visitors on a complete end-to-end journey through the modern label production process, the Label Trail takes in every stage from job creation to the finished product. Led by industry experts, the experience showcases the latest advances in workflow automation, sustainability, carbon footprint measurement, digital printing, embellishment, smart packaging, product authentication and finishing through a series of live demonstrations at the booths of Avery Dennison, CarbonQuota, Cerm, Esko, Flint Group Digital Xeikon, Grafisk Maskinfabrik (GM), KURZ and Scribos. 

‘By connecting these technologies into a single production workflow, the Label Trail provides practical insight into how today's most innovative solutions can help label converters improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact, strengthen brand protection and create greater value for customers,’ said De Roeck.