The constant development of new products, varieties and special promotions for the fast-moving retail sector, as well as the demand for sophisticated packaging designs, requires enormous flexibility while maintaining the highest quality. An increased risk of error often goes hand in hand with this.
Packpool medien GmbH, a full-service provider in the field of packaging artwork and repro, was faced with precisely this challenge. For more than 20 years, the established company has been supporting renowned international customers from the consumer goods and pharmaceutical sectors in all phases of packaging development and print-technical implementation in two countries. In order to meet the quality standards of its customers and to ensure an increase in efficient quality control in pre-press, Packpool, as a pilot customer, integrated the first version of the new, completely cloud-based text comparison and artwork proofreading system EyeC ProofText in cooperation with EyeC.
The challenge
Faster life and development cycles of products, frequently changing artwork of the customers, but also extensive nutritional
The challenge Faster product life cycles and frequently changing customer artwork, as well as extensive nutritional value and ingredient labelling, lead to significantly increased complexity and the associated risk of errors in the creation of packaging artwork. In order to maintain the high quality standards, Packpool initially reacted with time-consuming and cost-intensive quality checks and frequent manual adjustments. However, the existing technology quickly proved frustrating for the staff, as the results were still not 100% error-free and still required enormous manual intervention. In order to further increase the quality of the artwork, make the checking process more efficient and eliminate potential errors when handling even less standardised customer data, Packpool was looking for a reliable solution that would ensure the early, automated detection of deviations within the pre-press stage. At the same time, the new tool had to be as time-saving and easy to use as possible, and it had to be possible to use it without being tied to a specific location, e.g. in a home office.
The innovative solution
After a detailed evaluation of the most important text comparison system providers, the team around Thomas Johner, founder and managing director of Packpool, quickly decided on EyeC as a suitable partner. "We needed a mature, fully-automated solution for text inspection of our artwork, with the main goal of minimising the need for manual rework by the operator," says Johner. Both companies can already look back on a long-standing partnership of equals. To date, Packpool had already been using EyeC Proofiler Graphic for pixel-based revision control, whose advantages and good results were well known. "We have known EyeC for many years and greatly appreciate their strong portfolio and sound know-how. Through constant exchange with product management and service, EyeC provided us with a customised and innovative solution to realise our zero-error vision," the managing director continues.
The Perfect Fit
With support from EyeC's team of experts, Packpool is currently using EyeC ProofText.
The highly automated, web-based artwork proofreading system compares different text sources - mostly HTML briefings - with other files, such as the PDF of the final artwork file or the proof. An intelligent algorithm finds and evaluates discrepancies between documents, including text content and font, regardless of position, structure and style, even in complex briefings - in just one process step. The system's intuitive usability and innovative user interface enable users to efficiently review and evaluate complex documents. In addition, cost-intensive time can be saved by checking multiple documents and different languages simultaneously. For each completed job, ProofText generates a review report for tracking and quality assurance purposes. All of these features have been integrated into the final ProofText solution, ensuring that lengthy review cycles can be reduced and Packpool's prepress process accelerated.
Throughout the project, EyeC provided remote technical support for the implementation of ProofText. "What sets EyeC apart from other providers is the level of support. Intensive exchange at regular intervals meant that spontaneously arising questions were answered at any time. And we were also able to contribute our own ideas, which EyeC responded to and implemented quickly and straightforwardly. We had the feeling of being an extended part of the team," emphasises Oliver Glatt, customer consultant at Packpool.
The result
The main goal of further reducing the previously low error rate and optimising time-consuming rework through an automated process was successfully achieved. To date, Packpool has seen significant improvements in the quality of artwork and a substantial increase in the efficiency of individual workflows thanks to the highly-automated text matching and first-class user-friendliness. "Using it as a cloud-based application is definitely an added plus, as a significant part of the workforce still works decentrally," says Johner. The option of multilingualism (including more complex Asian languages such as Thai and Chinese) as well as the possibility to check languages from right to left (e.g. Arabic, Hebrew) also contributes to the successful increase in quality. The team uses the comprehensive report at the end of each test as documentation for the client and for their own security. All these factors lead to less complicated handovers and shorten the time it takes to get new packaging to customers and onto the market. Even long-standing customers of Packpool, such as AUGUST STORCK KG, were quickly convinced of the benefits of EyeC ProofText. "Since the integration of EyeC ProofText, we are more confident in delivering 100% quality day after day. This innovative form of digital control and the quality assurance that comes with it create significant added value for us and our customers," adds Glatt.
At the moment, three employees use the EyeC ProofText as a tool for daily quality control within the pre-press and work preparation departments. From the first briefing to every intermediate check to the finished final artwork, every artwork goes through a check with the EyeC ProofText. "No artwork leaves our house before that," confirms Johner. As a result, including all corrections, there are normally two checks (final artwork to briefing and final artwork to final artwork). This means that the number of checks could be reduced once again by using ProofText as desired. "The implementation in our digital work processes and workflows went smoothly. At the same time, we were able to increase the quality of the
quality of the artwork and significantly optimise the process structure of the quality control through the exclusively digital check," confirms Glatt.a
Next steps
The next steps include the expansion of ProofText to the sister company Packpool Swiss with a focus on pharmaceutical packaging and leaflets. In addition, Packpool is planning to use further functions that will soon be available with the continuous further development of ProofText. The potential for further value creation and optimisation of the process is still there. "EyeC ProofText underlines our claim to deliver the best quality on the market and to meet the highest requirements. An innovation that sets new standards internationally in proofreading and the development phase of print templates," says Johner. "We are proud to have been part of the pilot project and to have the system in regular use since March."