GHENT, Belgium—Hybrid Software announced the release of PACKZ 6.0.
Accompanying this release, anticipating customers gain access to a new world of automation at their fingertips. Packed with AI automations, this new version boasts a revamped user interface, extended complementary warping solutions and more.
Hybrid Software customers around the globe have one thing in common, no matter the company size, the material they print on, or the customers they serve: it is important that packaging printing businesses continue increasing efficiencies to meet changing demands.
PACKZ 6.0 is helping lead the way in automation giving customers time-saving benefits and a higher success rate while completely sweeping away repetitive tasks from their workflows.
Architect of PACKZ and Hybrid Chief Operating Officer Patrick Coussement shared, “In the prepress world, we understand that operators have their own ways of working. Instead of forcing PACKZ users to do things our way, Hybrid Software has worked hard to provide flexibility so every PACKZ user feels comfortable using our software. Since the first versions of PACKZ, users could already personalize the interface. With the new Pactions in PACKZ 6.0, they can now also personalize the functionality and tools, which leads to a higher level of productivity and performance.”
PACKZ can now record and edit series of routine tasks and store them as Pactions. The Pactions can be played back at any time on the entire design, a selection or as part of a custom tool. PACKZ’s automated action lists can also be seamlessly merged with CLOUDFLOW Packzflow automation on the server.
Pascal Wybo, product manager of PACKZ, added, “In order to succeed in a highly competitive label and packaging supply chain, companies are constantly looking for opportunities to improve the productivity of their prepress operations. Hybrid Software fulfills this need and accelerates the relentless pace of automation by offering complementary Pactions.”
PACKZ 6.0 comes with a redesigned user interface, called Nebula. Hereby, Hybrid Software aligns the PACKZ and CLOUDFLOW user interface, but above all the 6.0 version contributes to an even more positive user experience. Interplays between technologies are crucial to companies’ sustainable success. With PDF/X-4, the packaging industry will benefit in their transition from classic to digital printing technologies, or when having to supply ready for print designs. Text is intertwined with almost any label and packaging design and to better serve our customers PACKZ 6.0 now commands Arabic and Hebrew phrases with the improved text processing tools.
The digital printing explosion in packaging has experienced a strong growth in variable data printing. Hybrid Software brought the award-winning VDP technology to the market, and continues to develop market-leading tools with version 6. The VDP allows for the populating of executed variable data into repetitions, and automating of lead in and out for digital finishing and rewind equipment.
Hybrid Software’s Packzimizer is a module for PACKZ 6.0 in which AI gangs label or packaging designs on quantity and outputs print-ready impositions for web fed presses. Packzimizer will reduce downtime, increasing productivity, and can be driven from a CSV, thus linked to a MIS or enterprise business solution. The new AI algorithm also lends itself to creating concise and predictable cost estimation and production planning processes.
The step and repeat technology has been extended with push-button separation masking for staggered flexible packaging plates. It allows repetitions to be mounted on a cylinder in a seamless way simply by positioning the seam in between the printable objects. The entire process conforms with the ISO 19593-1 processing steps and can be exported to a CFF2 for use on cutting tables. PACKZ Cutting Line Definition will work together with CLOUDFLOW RIP and Tectonics Flexo Production Pack.
A bottleneck label adds an intriguing element to the overall look of a bottle, while personalized cups offer a unique way to serve beverages at special events. The Conical, Numeric and Cup Grid Creation together with Conical Warp will be added to the Standard PACKZ license, starting with PACKZ 6.0. The Live 3D rendering stays an option. All grid creation and warping solutions remain optional in Stepz 6.0.