Cerm and Esko celebrate 100th installation

Esko, a global developer of integrated hardware and software for the packaging industry, and Cerm, which develops software for integrated workflows, have worked together to deliver an integrated workflow automation and management information system to their customers.

‘We are delighted to have again partnered with Cerm to deliver a complete solution to our customer,’ said Paul Land, product manager at Esko. ‘With Automation Engine integrating seamlessly with the Cerm MIS we are able to optimize end-to-end production, delivering increased throughput and efficiency, while also ensuring consistent quality.’

The 100th collaboration between the two organizations was at Béziers-based Estrabols Imprimeur, one of the leading suppliers of labels in France for almost 70 years. 

‘With Automation Engine and Cerm MIS, the in-house design and integrated pre-press departments now have end-to-end efficiency and can ensure the company’s exacting quality standards are continuously met. Errors are reduced by 80 percent with automated quality checks, while standardized processes and offloading tasks to the automated workflow software significantly increase throughput,’ added Land.

Marine Estrabols, managing director of Estrabols Imprimeur, said: ‘The business and our customers are already enjoying the benefits of the new installation. We pride ourselves on investing in people and equipment to ensure we deliver the best quality product and service to our customers. As part of our continued evolution, we were looking to optimize our production processes from start to finish. When putting the Automation Engine in place, it made sense to do it right the first time. Connecting Cerm to Automation Engine allows us to drive pre-press with the same dataset used by Cerm. This helps us reduce the number of errors and enables faster throughput.’

Lowie-Pascal Geerinck, Product Manager of CERM, explained that the link between Esko Automation Engine and CERM MIS means that Estrabols Imprimeur’ customer service and pre-press teams are always talking the same language. 

‘While Automation Engine updates Cerm with vital data, correct views for tooling and the completed file, as well as delivering color information, Cerm automatically delivers the correct parameters to process the files quickly and accurately, and is as automated as possible,’ commented Lowie-Pascal Geernik, product manager at Cerm. ‘Our collaboration ensures we are securing complete pre-press integrations and aligning them with every other aspect of the customer business. This, in turn, is helping our customers evolve into the smart factories of the future.

Geert Van Damme, managing director at Cerm, added: ‘The first integration with Esko dates back to 2004. In 2009, Cerm and Esko received a CIPPI Award with the integration of 5 Sept Etiquette in France. The CIPPI Awards are distinctions from CIP4 to highlight particularly remarkable JDF integrations. In 2016, Cerm and Esko celebrated their 50th integration with the Norwegian Digital Label, and today, Estrabols Imprimeur is our 100th integration. It is a long history of trust, collaboration, and exchange of experiences and skills to provide the most complete and efficient solution possible to our customers.’