Highcon and Caldera partner to facilitate web-to-pack

The partnership pairs Caldera's new POW! online workflow software suite with the Highcon Euclid digital finishing system.

Highcon is shortly to launch the second generation of its Euclid technology, featuring a number of enhancements.

POW! has been built by Caldera for Highcon using Color Alliance technology, and combines a web order portal with an automated software system. POW! is to enter beta testing later in 2014 with its full commercial launch anticipated for 2015.

The POW! front end – which the printer can rebrand, customize and deploy either as a B2C or B2B2C portal – allows a brand owner to pick a package design from a broad library of templates and add their own graphics, text, cutting and marking elements.

Packages are reviewed in 3D before the order is completed and transferred to a hotfolder within the back office to be included within the print workflow. Caldera said this system could be used in an e-shop format for a variety of consumer products, from packaging to shaped folders or giftware, or to streamline customer order processes and simplify the sales process.

The Caldera RIP and workflow suite ensures that true color and raster data reach the printer in the appropriate format, and generates a DXF file for the Euclid engine which indicates the cut and crease paths, creating the high-margin embellishment enabled by a digital packaging set-up.

Caldera chief executive officer Joseph Mergui said: ‘Digital packaging production is an inventive area that is developing rapidly and building on its market share year after year. We see how Caldera's vision and expertise will enable printers to make full use of the exciting technologies that are shaping this sector, such as Highcon's, and to lead innovation in new customer models and creative opportunities.’

Eitan Varon, executive vice-president at Highcon, said: ‘More businesses in the packaging world are realizing that the new frontier in digital technology is after the print process. Web-to-pack is the natural extension of the abilities of this new logic, pulling together shorter run lengths, just-in-time ordering and personalization into a complete, creative commercial structure.

‘By combining Euclid and POW! from Caldera, our users will be able to explore new avenues for their business while making their sales process significantly more efficient.’