AB Graphic, Esko and Label Traxx partner for integration to increase throughput of ILS’s digital finishing department

The aim of the assignment was to speed up job changeover and increase throughput through ILS’s digital finishing department. Esko was also involved in the project.

Integration enables the Digilase converting line to pre-process the job in advance so that when a barcode printed on the web is scanned, the digital finisher knows which job it is running, is ready to cut the correct die line and the slitting knives are positioned automatically. Using Label Traxx’s new API module, an API was created that feeds the Digilase data in real time as production is processed. Esko’s Automation Engine creates the step and repeat of the job using data supplied by Label Traxx. There is a trigger in the file plan that runs the API. Label Traxx then creates and transfers the job data the Digilase requires via XML and generates a scalable vector graphic (SVG) file to give the laser a path to cut. The Digilase takes the SVG file and plots each burst of the laser. This pre-processing means that when the printed web enters the Digilase, the job barcode is read and the laser is already prepared. Set-up time on the finishing machine is minimized.

The Label Traxx API module is available in version 8 of its software, which is being launched at Labelexpo Americas 2016 next week.

ILS owner Jay Dollries explained: ‘Our digital label business has been growing fast. We already have Label Traxx integrated with Esko’s Automation Engine, which has significantly streamlined the flow from order processing to pre-press and printing. However, the volume of job changes has meant that a clear bottleneck was looming in finishing. We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this project.’

Of the project and partnership between Label Traxx, Esko and AB Graphic, Label Traxx president Ken Meinhardt said: ‘Together we have solved a real issue for our mutual customer ILS and we have successfully minimized set-up time on the Digilase finishing machine. This will enable ILS to finish a higher volume of digital label jobs every day.’

Read a comprehensive preview of Labelexpo Americas 2016 in L&L issue 4, and read it online here

Read an enhanced Labelexpo Americas 2016 preview via the L&L website here