The firm claims that the technology will bring benefits to the complicated approval workflows in its core packaging market.

Global brand owners including Nestl and Kraft are using the technology.

"Even more than in commercial print, Certified PDF has value in packaging," said Artwork Systems major account manager Stan Lemmens.

"Lots of packages have multiple language versions and there are more actors involved: legal department, creative, marketing, repro and print.

"Because of that the proofing cycle in packaging takes a long time...shortening time to market is really important for brand owners, hence Nestl is doing it."

According to Artwork Systems chairman Guido Van der Schueren, although rivals including Agfa, Creo, EFI, Fuji and Screen have licensed Certified PDF the firm has an advantage in how it uses the technology. "They use it for pre-flight, it stops where production starts," he said. "With Artwork it's cradle to grave."

Next month the firm is launching new versions of all its ArtPro, Nexus and Odystar workflows, introducing new features including native PDF 1.4 and 1.5 support throughout, improved calibration and new screening.

As a stepping-stone to JDF it has introduced NexML for its Nexus workflow that uses XML to control job settings.

"We are 100% behind JDF, but today it is not there and people want a solution right now," said Van der Schueren.

The firm is expanding its UK sales team as it increases its focus on the market, in particular in commercial print with Odystar. To date it has made five installations including bezier and Terry Smith, and has two more in the pipeline.

Story by Barney Cox