Wide Format Imaging

Three new reseller agreements have been signed up at drupa by EskoArtwork in order to meet demand in the Eastern European display and packaging markets, where its revenues are increasing annually by 30 to 60 percent. The company's Kongsberg cutting tables will now be offered by Romanian companies ProPrint SRL and Grup Transilvae, both of Transylvania, and Croatian distributor Fortuna Komers, in this region.

EskoArtwork's new contracts are well-timed to react to the exponential growth in this important geographical area following the merger between Esko and Artwork Systems in August 2007. The trio of newly-signed dealers will provide EskoArtwork customers in the region with sales and support services. Grup Transilvae and Fortuna Komers are both long-standing distributors of the full range of HP Designjet and HP Scitex printers, from aqueous- and mild-solvent based products through to wide- and superwide-format UV-curable options. The main customer base for these two companies are within the display and sign-making sectors whilst ProPrint specialises in the packaging industry. All three distributors realise the importance of adding the ability to add cutting, creasing and folding options to their portfolios.

"We have 20 years of experience in the offset market but since we added the digital side four years ago we've seen 25 to 35 percent year-on-year growth," said Vice Stanic, sales manager of Fortuna Komers. "Our customers demand high standards of product and that's why we believe in this new distribution channel, which combines our existing print portfolio with the expertise of EskoArtwork Kongsberg in cutting tables and software."

"We've been a distributor within the display and packaging areas since 1991 when we started as a software related business before moving into digital proofing," said Bogdan Vasilescu, general manager of Grup Transilvae. "Offering our customers the Kongsberg range of cutting tables from EskoArtwork completes our catalogue of quality products."

As a newer enterprise, ProPrint was formed last year by EskoArtwork's established Hungarian reseller, Partners Ltd. Horatiu Stef, ProPrint Sales Director said: "The Romanian packaging industry has responded very positively to our appointment and, with the growth of the Romanian market, it was clear that EskoArtwork needed direct local representation."