Creo focuses on packaging

Gary Hardman, (pictured), Packaging Solutions Manager, will lead the Creo prepress push into the packaging industry in Australia and New Zealand. A new sales and service division will promote Creo solutions to packaging printers in both offset and flexo markets.

The installation of a Trendsetter® VLF Quantum at Carter Holt Harvey's prepress company, Montage Graphics in Melbourne, is the latest move in increasing Creo’s presence in the important graphics sector.

“Creo has a commitment to create a strong packaging business for our customers and we have the ideal tools and systems for this very important market segment,” said Gary Hardman.

Creo has developed specialized solutions for packaging while working closely with packaging trade shops and converters as well as leveraging proven R&D successes in digital prepress technologies. Prinergy Powerpack™
www.creo.com/products/software_solutions/workflow/Prinergy/powerpack/index.asp
and Brisque™ Pack
www.creo.com/products/software_solutions/workflow/Brisque/index.asp workflow solutions streamline the package production workflow.

Creo packaging workflow systems are available in several configurations –with basic functionality to more complex systems. The workflow systems are designed to fit a variety of production environments. By building a customized system, packaging printers/converters and trade shops can match their operational needs and connect the system to existing equipment investments and packaging prepress front-ends.

Both workflow systems support step-and-repeat, trapping, proofing, colour management, colour separations, and output to plate or film. Brisque Pack is a new CT/LW packaging workflow solution, offering step-and-repeat options, which drives proofing and plate imaging devices and includes specialized flexo screening and distortion capabilities. Prinergy Powerpack is a PDF-based workflow management system for packaging, which streamlines and organizes tag and label prepress production, including 1-up processing, step-and-repeat layouts, proofing and CTF or CTP imaging. The new version of Prinergy Powerpack, 2.1, includes 7.5 degree-shifted flexo angle screening and vector scaling for flexography trade shops or converters. It also integrates Pandora® 1.5, the packaging and label step-and-repeat solution that helps trade shops and converters streamline their workflow. This powerful step-and-repeat program and nesting application fully supports PDF and is designed to automatically optimize the press sheet surface.

The latest version of Pandora, 2.0, www.creo.com/products/software_solutions/workflow/pandora/index.asp currently in beta, can be fully integrated into both the Prinergy Powerpack and Brisque Pack workflows. Pandora 2.0 includes new features such as support for Job Definition Format (JDF) and editable non-rectangular bleed paths automatically derived from CAD die line information. It also supports bleed overlap detection with advanced, easy-to-use tools for automatic overlap correction, die-station ordering with fully automated placement of die-station number marks, and die-mirroring for the creation of double-sided layouts.

Collaborate Online
Creo’s Synapse® InSite
www.creo.com/products/software_solutions/workflow/Synapse/index.asp is an internet portal that shrinks the length of production cycles by allowing online collaboration between consumer product companies or packaging print buyers and the trade shops or converters preparing their packaging. This powerful workflow management software allows users to submit jobs and proof them remotely. From wherever customers and service reps have access to the Internet, they can submit print jobs, track progress, proof, collaborate with creative and production staff on changes, receive up-to-minute job information, and approve work—all on-line and in a secure environment.
The Synapse InSite Internet portal integrates seamlessly with the Prinergy Powerpack and Brisque Pack workflow products, making online communication convenient between trade shops, converters and their customers.

Most Productive Flexo CTP
The ThermoFlex® computer-to plate (CTP) devices
www.creo.com/products/output/Packaging/ThermoFlex/index.asp are equipped with 830nm laser thermal imaging and feature fast, easy load/unload operation that reduces material damage and dramatically improves productivity. A wide range of media types, sizes and thicknesses is accommodated and adjustments are not required when changing plate sizes, so operators can quickly move from job to job without slowing production. Total throughput is the best in the industry and imaging speed is consistent independently of plate thickness.

Faster Offset CTP
Creo has announced the fastest ever imaging speed for the Trendsetter® VLF Quantum offset platesetter.
www.creo.com/products/output/CommercialCTP/VLF/trendsetterVLFq/index.asp
The new V2.8 speed option images fifteen 1,143 x 1,448 mm (45 x 57 in) plates per hour and is currently being tested with customers. More than 700 Trendsetter VLF devices are installed worldwide—more installations than any other very large-format device. Trendsetter VLF devices offer a choice of imaging speed, format size, level of process control and level of automation (from semi-automatic to fully automatic) to meet the very-large format platemaking needs of converters and packaging trade shops, as well as magazine, book, catalogue and directory printers.

Staccato Screening for Packaging
Staccato® www.creo.com/products/color/staccato/index.asp screening produces packaging printing with high fidelity, artefact-free images that exhibit fine detail without halftone rosettes and screening moiré, grey level limitations or abrupt jumps in tone. There is no impact on RIP'ing or rendering time. Staccato screening also improves colour and halftone stability on press, making it a perfect complement to consistent "by-the-numbers" printing. When imaged with the consistency and accuracy of SQUAREspot® thermal imaging, Staccato delivers unmatched quality to proof and plate. Staccato screening is now used as a practical tool for everyday use in today’s pressroom. Staccato screening is available with the Trendsetter VLF Quantum CTP device.

Revolutionary Spotless Solution
The Spotless™ solution is a new colour management technology breakthrough from Creo. The Spotless solution allows trade shops/converters to eliminate spot colour inks, yet deliver spot colour performance at a fraction of the usual cost. For spot intensive work on sheetfed presses, such as folding cartons, the cost reduction can easily exceed 5 percent. This six-colour technology will be available in Prinergy Powerpack next year.

Creo Knows Packaging
Creo employs packaging experts in research and development, product management, marketing, sales, and technical consultants who specialize in customized solutions for the packaging market.

In Creo Asia Pacific, the sales and marketing team was recently expanded under Gary Hardman to better serve the local packaging industry. “Creo has a commitment to create a strong packaging business for our customers and we have the ideal tools and systems for this very important market segment,” he said. “Recent trends in the global economy, and in social, technological and consumer attitudes are applying increased pressure on the entire supply chain. Brand managers need to get their products faster to market to meet the needs of both consumers and legislation. Improving the workflow becomes a vital part of any brand growth planning.”

The packaging industry is undergoing many changes due to corporate consolidation, globalisation of activities, and the complex supply chain networks. Trade shops and converters are also evolving to improve their profitability.