Esko worked on the project with CERM, which develops MIS for labels and packaging converters, to simplify processes and expand the product offering range of Accent, part of the Asteria Labels & Packaging Group which is based in Gullegem, Belgium.
“Accent was looking to improve workflow efficiency with its complex labels – everything from front and back printing, hybrid labels printed with multiple printing technologies to multi-layer labels such as duo and tri-labels,” said Esko global solutions manager Ken Polspoel.
“We pride ourselves on having strong relationships with our customers and always listening to their needs, so when Accent came to us with their challenge, we immediately began exploring how our solutions could help overcome them.”
The collaboration between Esko and CERM on the pilot continued a relationship that began more than 10 years ago.
“These discussions resulted in the development of a brand new innovation that enabled Accent to automate and streamline much of the production of complex labels,” said Polspoel.
“The workflow enhancements were driven by the business logic from CERM, then fully automated in Automation Engine. We were thrilled to be first to market with this new capability, and since our work with the Asteria Group it has already been deployed more than 10 times in businesses around the world, including Europe, Asia, and the USA.”
Christophe Beke, chief technology innovation officer at the Asteria Group, who managed the project for Accent, said that when the pilot project began the challenge was primarily to automate the various flavour and multi-label runs for one of its customers.
“Though this work only represented 5% of our total orders, the complexity of the print job meant that we had both an art specialist and pre-press operator employed full-time just to manage the project,” said Beke.
“Not having the ability to manage this with automated workflows meant that different files were needed for the various stages of the job. Now it’s fully automated, everything is streamlined removing any possibility for human error in loading the different files at the wrong time.”
Benefits of the new integration with Esko Automation Engine include the ability to automate workflows for complex jobs ranging from combination prints to front and back printing.
“The efficiency and productivity savings since introducing the new Automation Engine integration functionality have been huge,” said Beke.
“If we do a peel-off label, where previously we would have had to spend around four hours in pre-press, it can now be done in less than 30 minutes.”
The final integration was completed by Esko and CERM at the end of 2021 and the system is now being implemented at other Asteria Group sites and at other businesses worldwide.
