Esko’s vision for packaging in India

The packaging industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with technological advancements, automation, and evolving market trends reshaping its landscape. Mustafa Salur, general manager for Turkey, Middle East, Africa, and the Commonwealth of Independent States at Esko, shared his insights into these shifts and how Esko is leading the charge.

One of the key areas Salur highlighted is the rise of extended colour gamut (ECG). He pointed out how Esko provided the first image processing software in the world to secure the Fogra55 certification for ECG printing process for colour matching. Salur mentioned how Esko's software models the spot colour and expanded gamut ink systems used to print brand colours to deliver a contract proof that matches the final packaging. This is backed by certifications and accreditations, as well as the ability to match ISO 12647-7 quality.

Salur also highlighted the importance of  the cloud-based WebCenter. He said, "This platform provides a centralised solution that connects all stakeholders in the packaging process, from brand owners and designers to premedia and print suppliers, enabling real-time collaboration and significantly reducing time-to-market."  

Esko's WebCenter has made a mark because of its intuitive interface, robust annotation capabilities, and flexibility in handling a multitude of graphical file formats. Salur said, "It's ideal for companies that understand both the consumer packaged goods sector and the requirements of packaging design and artwork management workflows which include both graphics and structural design."

Looking at the balance of printing technologies in the market, Karan Talwar, sales director for South Asia at Esko, observed that flexo printing is gaining momentum. “Flexo is increasing its market share every year,” he stated, citing the trend toward shorter run lengths and more SKUs as key drivers. He highlighted that flexo’s quality now rivals that of gravure, making it an attractive option for brands seeking greater flexibility and cost-efficiency.

The demand for in-house pre-press capabilities is another notable shift in the market. Many flexible packaging companies, including those using both gravure and flexo, are now choosing to manage their pre-press processes internally. “Accuracy of brand colours is of paramount importance in packaging, with a key challenge for converters being maintaining consistency between plate production and proofing and Esko is enabling it," said Talwar.

Esko’s software innovations also play a critical role in shaping the future of the industry. Salur pointed to the launch of Esko S2, a multi-tenant, cloud-native platform, a solution that integrates Internet of Things and machine learning to offer smarter workflows. The upcoming launch of CDI Crystal Quartz technology, which promises higher quality and more flexibility, is expected to make a significant impact, particularly in markets like India where quality demands are rising.

Salur spoke about the success of Esko CDI Crystal XPS plate imaging and exposing systems family. The device is said to combine the upgraded optics of the CDI Crystal with optimised Crystal Screening software. He said, "This sets the benchmark for flexo platemaking." He explained, "In flexible packaging, gravure is considered as delivering the best in print quality. With this new innovation we are giving converters in India a way to match that print quality in flexography. Esko is raising the bar on quality to the very highest level and truly enabling flexo printers to achieve the optimum results for their customers."

Readers will recall that Esko announced the sale of its Advanced Vision Technology (AVT) print inspection business to Porat Itay Holdings. The announcement was made on 19 December and the anticipated closing of the transaction is Q1 2025.

"Selling the print inspection business enables AVT to operate with the strategic focus necessary to drive its growth and innovation," said Salur. He added, "This means we can focus on our ambitions in packaging management, pre-press workflow and flexo platemaking solutions."