Label World installs complete EskoArtwork pre-press system

Rochester, New York-based Label World, a supplier of custom labels, is reporting greater productivity and higher quality flexo printing due to its recent implementation of an EskoArtwork software workflow solution and a Cyrel Digital Imager (CDI) 2530 flexo platemaker.

Until recently, Label World had utilized an analog, film-based plate system, burning flexo plates and working with pre-press tools featuring Adobe Illustrator. ‘We were limited to a coarser line screen and larger minimum dot size on press,’ said John McDermott, Label World president and CEO. ‘We wanted to improve the quality of the color work we were able to produce, so we could go after higher value-added opportunities. We also wanted more consistency on color output. We had been using our Indigo digital press for quality hard proofs, but that was extremely inefficient, and wasted a lot of material.’

‘Clearly, the workflow at the front end had to align with both the flexo and digital business - all roll fed,’ explained McDermott. ‘The EskoArtwork system is a proven solution that has all the features we needed in terms of productivity of pre-press as well as the ability to connect to a CDI 2530 digital plate system. They also do a great job feeding work to our Indigo press.’

Label World is most excited about the ability to consistently match color expectations between its Epson proof and the flexo press, as well as its Indigo press. By adding an Epson Stylus Pro 4880 inkjet printer along with EskoArtwork FlexRip and Equinox, proofs are much easier and faster to create with no sacrifice in color accuracy.

With the new EskoArtwork system, Label World was able to upgrade to 150 lpi from 133 lpi work, as well as upgrading the anilox rollers and inks used. The company is doing more complex work four-color to produce vignettes better.

The printer has also reduced the time for platemaking by more than 50 percent, from up to 2.5 hours per plate to less than 1 hour. This has led to an increase in productivity, because the presses don't have to wait for plates.