A major French label converter with three sites in France, Stratus Packaging has recently invested in Esko’s digital flexo solution including a CDI Spark 4835 with HD Flexo technology. In addition, it is the first label converter in France to install the Digital Flexo Suite for Labels with a Kongsberg XN cutting table for automated flexo plate production and accurate plate cutting.

‘It is our ambition to remain constantly at the cutting edge of label printing technologies,’ said Isidore Leiser, CEO of Stratus Packaging. ‘Our investments are always a clear demonstration of our commitment to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations. We can only do so by offering the best technology and equipment available on the market. We have always made it a priority to work with leading, state-of-the-art technology providers and Esko is the perfect partner for this.’

Offering both conventional printing services including offset, flexo, flexo UV and screen printing, as well as digital printing services, is one of the company’s main strengths. With an international and diverse customer base, it must be able to respond to the most diverse requirements in terms of quality label printing. ‘It is our philosophy to listen to our customers, and based upon their specific needs, select the most appropriate technology to print their labels,’ commented Mr Leiser.

‘Working with Esko gave us access to both high quality digital flexo printing as well as efficient digital printing on our HP Indigo digital presses driven by Esko’s DFE (Digital Front-End). Its solutions allow us to accurately prepare files, while having the ability to choose till the last moment the best technology for the specific job. We are therefore in a position to meet every customer requirement with the right technological answer.’

The recent investment marks another milestone in a longstanding collaboration between both companies. Stratus has been working successfully with an Esko Nexus pre-press workflow for than 10 years, as well the DFE, which has been driving three HP Indigo digital presses for almost four years, while WebCenter is used to offer customers remote proofing service over the internet.

Mr Leiser continued, ‘HD Flexo and the CDI will help us significantly improve the print quality of our labels, thanks to high quality plates, offering highly replicable results.’

‘The speed of the CDI and the streamlined plate cutting process using the Kongsberg table and Digital Flexo Suite will also help us reduce turnaround times and meet shorter deadlines. Finally, the new possibilities offered by the Kongsberg XN table as far as nested shapes, now allow us to explore new label shapes in a cost effective way.’

He explained that this recent investment is only the first step in an ambitious €10 million investment programme that over the next five years will see an upgrade of most of the company’s printing equipment. The next step includes an investment in a new flexo UV press and an offset UV press.

 

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