The increasingly growing demand
for ever more sophisticated production tools has inspired Esko to develop the i-cut
Production Console. This newly developed front-end operating system will be the
common platform for all Kongsberg digital finishing systems. It combines the
feature set of the XL-Guide tailored for packaging applications and i-cut
Vision Pro, the industry standard front-end for cutting and short run
productions. Designed for all operations on all Kongsberg tables, the i-cut
Production Console forms a solid foundation for any future developments.
The i-cut Production
Console (iPC) drives all functionality found on Kongsberg tables, such as
camera control, machine set up, tool recognition, calibration and tool adjustments.
“These tried and tested features are industry favorites, and are now
incorporated into a much more intuitive operating system for users,” explains
Tom Naess, Esko Product Manager CAM. “We want to help customers simplify their
approach so they can maximize their capabilities. Ease of use is about making
complex tasks easy. A good portion of accomplishing this is hidden in great
software design created completely from scratch, consulting with user interface
specialists to build an efficient system. The iPC instinctively supports the
machine operator and displays colors with a meaning, which draws focus to the
right area at the right time. It will change the way operators finish a job,
and allow them to get even more out of their machine: they will get up to speed
faster while improving the output quality. It all leads to less downtime and
more efficiency - with less training or service intervention.”
Assuring the most stable operating system
The i-cut Production
Console is ingeniously designed to guide and support the operator, and
incorporates a number of logical, user-friendly features: from its icon-based
graphical interface with color coded alerts and updates, to the ability to
follow production progress from a distance. “This enables one operator to do
other tasks while overseeing the production on a Kongsberg table,” explains
Naess. “With clear display functionality and easy to understand icons, every
step of operation can be readily identified for a smooth process.”
The legacy of i-cut
Vision Pro software along with the Esko XL-Guide that operated previous
generations of Kongsberg tables has created a firm base for theiPC to deliver
on Esko’s Highest Flexibility promise – one common user
interface for all tables and all applications, allowing users to easily
understand how to expand the capabilities of their machine into different
business areas. “It's a platform designed to help operators get jobs done
faster and easier, with more options,” explains Naess. “For example, they can
pause a run, complete an urgent job or quick prototype, and return to the first
batch of work. The result is maximized capacity and uptime with increased
efficiency.”
Extended versatility
"As Kongsberg users work
with a greater variety of production tools, they want to be prepared for any
job and be more efficient, whether they are working on packaging or wide format
displays,” concludes Naess. “The development of the i-cut
Production Console is also based on extensive input and testing from our users
who contributed to the system’s specifications. Their experience was very
valuable to identify particular user features that bring ease of use to a next
level. The iPC will add even more to the already high popularity of our tables
and help customers become more productive than they already are.”
The i-cut Production
Console is available now, worldwide through all Esko sales and distribution
channels for Kongsberg XN and V Series tables. Beginning in 2015, it will
become available for most Kongsberg models, including upgrades for existing
customers.
Esko is a global supplier of
integrated solutions for the packaging and labels, sign and display, commercial
printing and publishing industries. Esko products and services drive
profitability in the packaging and printing supply chain by reducing
time-to-market and raising productivity.
