Hybrid Software introduces updates for its software packages

‘The way we see it, our future is dependent upon the latest, innovative technologies multiplied by extreme customer care: customer squared. We all face a common challenge—the need for connectivity and access to real-time insights. Industry 4.0 focuses on machine and software interconnectivity, which links physical production with smart digital technologies. It lets us serve all our customers on the packaging supply chain—the marriage of technology and customer care,’ said Guido Van der Schueren, chairman of Hybrid Software. ‘It means that while our future is reliant upon technology, we must take care of our customers. This will be particularly important during the post Covid-19 restart, and Hybrid is offering new solutions that will do just that.’

The company has released the new version of its Packz 6.0, the native PDF prepress production tool designed for labels and packaging, which has undergone a major refresh with a new user interface and received several new features, including Pactions, enabling  recording and editing series of routine tasks, and storing them as action lists that can be easily played back for reference.

Packzimizer is a new tool that automatically imposes designs based on job information such as quantity or substrate, for output on digital presses. The version 6.0 also features VDP Execute and Boosters enabling augmenting designs with variable text, varying colors and images, numbers and barcodes. The security has been improved with the new PDF X-4 support, designed for file exchange between the different stakeholders in the production chain.

With Stepz 6.0, Hybrid Software now offers a separate, entry-level version with reduced feature set, designed for quick implementation and ease of use, specifically useful for digital print. Stepz is also available with a useful set of optional feature extensions, such as expanded step-and-repeat or variable data printing.

Cloudflow server software for file and asset management, soft proofing, and workflow automation has been updated with new features, including tectonics software contributing to saving flexo plate material, reducing waste, optimizing the use of flexo CTP devices by optimizing the layout of jobs.

The server package also now includes: Intelligent Flexo feature enabling quality improvements in a repeatable, automated way, independent of CTP brand or plate vendor; new VDP PDF document structure optimized to work seamlessly and quickly on existing digital DFEs.

Cloudflow has direct support for many popular digital devices and software systems. New connections include: Xeikon ThermoflexX for its new ThermoflexX Catena flexo plate imagers. Hybrid Tectonics helps optimize flexo plates; new drivers for EyeC, GlobalVision and BST eltromat quality assurance and inspection systems help improve process automation; Datalink module uses a pre-configured connector to bridge the gap between Cerm or Label Traxx MIS and Cloudflow.