EFI and Esko collaborate on packaging workflows

This collaboration will connect EFI Fiery, Esko workflows and EFI ERP/MIS technology to provide a unified production ecosystem for packaging companies. In addition, customers using the Esko workflow will be able to prepare jobs once for output and use EFI's optimization tools to route them to their Fiery driven digital production devices with a single seamless experience.

EFI and Esko intend to develop a unified workflow for digital printing of packaging using EFI's Fiery DFE combined with Esko's workflow automation platform. This combined offering will be integrated to EFI's ERP/MIS and web-to-print technologies to provide an end-to-end workflow from design to delivery.

Beyond the DFE and workflow integration, EFI and Esko will also enhance their existing integration between Fiery and the full platform of Esko workflow tools, as well as EFI's ERP/MIS and web-to-print products.’

Toby Weiss, senior vice president and general manager of EFI Fiery, said: ‘Packaging is a key area of growth for EFI and our customers and many of our Fiery partners now offer great digital printers that are suitable for packaging production. We believe a Fiery and Esko combined solution will be the best way to meet this need in the packaging workflow space.’

Bernard Zwaenepoel, senior vice president of Esko’s software business, added: ‘By combining the expertise and technology of two undisputed market leaders, EFI and Esko, we believe together we will offer a great solution for companies that want to enter packaging, as well as those packaging companies that already have an Esko workflow and want to get into digital printing.’

The first of the new offerings sees integration between the Esko Automation Engine, EFI Packaging Productivity Suite and Fiery. This integration is planned for release at the end of 2016. The EFI Fiery DFE combined with the Esko automation platform and additional integration into EFI's Productivity Suite is planned for release in 2017.