Esko continues ten-year partnership with SENAI College in Brazil

The National Service for Industrial Apprenticeship (known by its Portuguese acronym, SENAI) is a private institution for technical education with two million students and more than 700 campuses throughout Brazil. It is the largest professional training organization in Latin America.

The need for formal graphic arts training in Brazil became evident in 1945, when more than half of Brazil's printing establishments were located in São Paulo. Despite the large number of laborers, few were qualified professionals. In most cases, companies hired foreign professionals who passed on their knowledge while carrying out their work. To address the problem, SENAI-SP established its first Graphic Arts School. In subsequent years, SENAI-SP increased the number of graphic arts courses and training programs. Now, the Theobaldo De Nigris SENAI School offers technical, degree programs, and postgraduate curricula for professionals in the graphic arts and pulp & paper industries. It is the only school in the world comprising all stages of the graphic production chain, from producing pulp to the finishing of printed work. 

Esko: educational partner

To keep the school updated, SENAI arranges partnerships with companies and associations, in the form of donations and loaning of material, equipment and software – along with training of teachers and assistance in spreading technical knowledge. All software and equipment at SENAI offered by Esko are used for learning and developing technical support for the printing and packaging industries in Brazil. 

‘Esko makes a significant difference in the printing and packaging industries in Brazil. They offer excellent solutions and technical support,’ said Manoel Manteigas de Oliveira, SENAI director of Theobaldo De Nigris School. ‘Esko is one of SENAI's best partners, providing very useful support for our work. The technical software and equipment knowledge provided by Esko is so important, because Esko helps us prepare competent, skilled professionals for Brazilian industry.’

Esko began donating software to SENAI in 2005. It recently upgraded the school with complete licenses of Esko Suite 14, which includes packaging design with ArtiosCAD and Studio, pre-press with ArtPro, DeskPack, Automation Engine and Color Engine – among others.

SENAI also has digital flexo capabilities with a CDI digital flexo plate imager, and digital finishing with a Kongsberg table. SENAI currently operates a CDI Spark 4835 digital flexo plate imager with HD Flexo (loaned from Esko partner DuPont) for its flexography classes. There is also an Esko Kongsberg XN22 digital cutting table for folded carton and corrugated substrates (acquired by SENAI).

‘Esko is responsible for training our teachers who give classes, but their involvement goes far beyond that,’ commented Manteigas. ‘Esko professionals frequently visit our school. Their presence is very evident. They often work with our teachers in the classroom, itself.’