Esko logoHighcon Systems Ltd based in Yavne, Israel, has announced details of a commercial and technological co-operation agreement with Esko. The deal will integrate Esko’s ArtiosCAD structural design and manufacturing software with the world’s first digital cutting and creasing machine, the Highcon Euclid.

ArtiosCAD is one of the world‘s most popular software for packaging professionals with dedicated tools for structural design, product development, virtual prototyping and manufacturing. The Highcon Euclid will process ArtiosCAD designs to be digitally cut and creased.

Miki Zimmer, Highcon co-founder, said: “Throughout the development of the Euclid we have focused on combining our own technology with that of best-in- class suppliers, to deliver optimised solutions to the customer. There is no doubt Esko is our first choice of workflow partner.”

Bernard Zwaenepoel, Esko’s senior vice president of software business, said: “We are proud to be part of the game-changing revolution that Highcon is bringing to the folding carton market. As the world’s major player in packaging prepress workflow, Esko is the natural partner to also drive this digital cutting and creasing revolution together with Highcon.”

Highcon Euclid digital cutting and creasing machine

As DPNLive reported previously (January 27^th) Highcon’s Direct-to-Pack solution uses entirely new technology to eliminate conventional dies and deliver high-quality cut and creased sheets from digital data. The Highcon Euclid is the world’s first entirely digital cutting and creasing production machine for folded cartons. With jobs accepted from standard prepress software, the Euclid uses Highcon’s “digital adhesive rule technology” (DART) to create the crease lines within minutes, with no need for traditional dies. With the Highcon Euclid, turnaround times are cut dramatically while run lengths up to 10,000 sheets become attractive and profitable for the converter. Under the new agreement, the Highcon Euclid will accept digital files from standard sources, such as Esko ArtiosCAD, that contain the carton’s cutting and creasing information within two layers. The creasing layer information is used to swiftly create the Highcon DART, laying polymer rules onto a foil mounted on the creasing cylinder. The complete setup takes about 15 minutes and then production begins. The second data layer controls three CO₂ lasers and an innovative Highcon scanning system which cuts and perforates the cartons in high quality at production speeds prior to stacking.

Both Esko and Highcon will exhibit at drupa 2012 in Dusseldorf in May and visitors can see the results of the collaboration on the Highcon booth, B28 in Hall 4.

www.highcon.net

http://www.esko.com/en/Products/overview/artioscad/overview

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