Puntes adopts Esko Quartz

Puntes Packaging Partners, a Spanish pre-press provider, has begun using Esko Quartz technology to supply flexographic plates to customers in Spain, France, Belgium and Portugal, following its recent acquisition of French tradeshop Art Media Graphic (AMG).

Puntes has worked with printers in France and Belgium since 2008. AMG, based in Gournay-en-Bray, northeast of Paris, strengthens its local presence and expands its flexible packaging capabilities. AMG was already a long-standing Esko customer with an integrated Esko environment, which made integration into Puntes straightforward and allows the two businesses to standardize processes and exchange expertise.

'Our investment in the Esko Quartz ecosystem is a natural step in our long-term commitment to innovation. We have already seen the benefits of advanced Esko technologies such as Crystal screening, and Quartz allows us to take that to the next level. It gives us the opportunity to deliver even greater detail, smoother highlights and improved print stability for demanding packaging applications,' said Sergio Montañés Cubero, marketing and sales manager at Puntes Packaging Partners.

Puntes is using its Quartz-equipped production in Spain to manufacture plates for the French market, and the same capability will also support customers in Portugal. This combines centralized, highly controlled plate production with the local customer relationships and service provided by AMG in France.

'We are using our Quartz-equipped production in Spain to manufacture plates for the French market, while the same production capability will also support customers in Portugal. This approach combines centralized, highly controlled plate production with the local customer relationships and service capabilities provided by AMG in France. Establishing a production and service hub in France also brings Puntes closer to our French customers, helping reduce transport distances and the associated logistics footprint,' he added.

Quartz optical technology images higher-frequency surface structures at 2,000 lpi (Q-Cells), with an imaging resolution of 4,000 ppi, nearly double the current industry standard. Esko says the microcells engraved in the solid ink areas significantly boost ink transfer, giving converters a way to match gravure print quality in flexography. The dual optics system supports both legacy and forward-looking flexo platemaking with optimized Quartz Screening and complements the Crystal ecosystem in Esko's digital flexo portfolio.

'With Quartz now extending the capabilities of its established Esko ecosystem, Puntes is well positioned to support the evolving demands of European flexographic packaging production while maintaining the consistency, technical expertise and customer focus that underpin its growth strategy,' explained Pascal Thomas, director of flexo product management at Esko.

Montañés Cubero said Puntes wants to be a long-term strategic partner offering the same quality, service and capacity for innovation in every market it serves. 'Automation, innovation and process standardization will remain fundamental to our growth as we continue investing in technologies that help our customers become more competitive,' he noted.