The COVID-19 shutdown has forced the reevaluation of inefficient workflow and older processes up and down the supply chain. A recent example is an upgrade O-I Glass Inc. made to its cool, customized O-I : Expressions service.
A year and a half ago, when O-I : Expressions began developing digital designing for glass packaging, their mandate was to collaborate with all their customers and employees within one multi-device platform—simple to use without requiring hours of training. O-I : Expressions transitioned from a legacy paper-based system to a digital one, with the help of HYBRID Software’s flexible platform.
HYBRID Software’s CLOUDFLOW workflow, PACKZ editor and integration products offer a unique set of advantages that include native PDF workflows, vendor-independent solutions based on industry standards, scalable technology and low cost of ownership. These products are used by hundreds of customers worldwide in all areas of pre-press and print, including labels and packaging, folding cartons, corrugated, wide format and digital printing.
With the help of HYBRID Software’s CLOUDFLOW and PACKZ, O-I : Expressions is creating new marketing opportunities for brands through customization and personalization by sculpting glass bottles into multi-dimensional works of art, enabled by digital printing. Brands could create this packaging at flexible volumes, industrial speeds and good value, with an unprecedented range of color and design possibilities, compared to traditional decoration solutions. O-I : Expressions Relief, a premium offering, adds customized tactile effects, such as clear and color embossing.
With HYBRID PACKZ, designers focus more on design, and less on repetitive tasks such as trapping, imposition, and color management. With a native PDF file format workflow decision makers can easily view a file, review it, and approve it before production.
With the new digital system, O-I: Expressions can quickly create many different designs for review. They may not have empirical evidence of improved productivity yet, but their designers are managing an exponential increase of work. Meanwhile, others in the organization can learn how a colleague completed an interesting project elsewhere. Everyone will be able to see any project, have a backup, and receive 24/7 graphics design services. Customer assistance will be global.
“Variable data is a key feature in digital printing. My focus is the people. The technology lets our people add value,” explains Apostolos Pratos, global sales & marketing digital transformation leader. “For example, we have done some work sending car owners a personalized gift with their names. That was a small, manual project. We prefer an automated system. With HYBRID CLOUDFLOW and PACKZ, O-I : EXPRESSIONS designers can focus more on design, and less on the repetitive things.”
O-I tells us the early development work thus far has taken place in France, but an installation in North America is being explored.
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