XPS Crystal Exposure Unit
Improve plate consistency.
The XPS Crystal platemaking certification program focuses on the plate making process as well as best-in-class print quality. The certification program is open to all XPS Crystal users and can be started when the XPS Crystal is installed, during a preventative maintenance visit of the XPS, or upon request.
The certificate helps communicate that your company offers the “best in class” plate making process:
You will receive a certificate, a logo for your e-mail signature, and a certification report which you can use for internal verification purposes.
Beyond the external communication benefits, you will also be able to verify your plate making process against the industry benchmark. This will help you track plate quality over time and catch potential issues before they occur on press.
The certification process has three steps.
Start the certification process using the online form
Prepare the deliverables
Send us your print samples
Québec-based Empire L.A. has become the first digital prepress and press-ready flexographic plate specialist in Canada to receive ‘best in class’ certification under the new XPS Crystal Program.Since the formation of Empire L.A. in 2006 the company has become one of the biggest players in the Québec market, serving a client base across Ontario as well as parts of the United States.
With offices in Belgium, France and The Netherlands, Athena Graphics provides brand support, artwork, prepress and flexo platemaking to customers around the globe, delivering more than 80,000 SKUs for more than 100 brands.
Leading independent French enterprise Medialliance Graphic Bourgoin Jallieu has become the first business to achieve ‘best in class’ plate making certification under a new program introduced by Esko. “Here at Medialliance, we have secured a position as a go-to partner for companies looking for support with packaging and brand identities,” said Olivier.
Waldo Limited becomes the first UK based company to achieve Esko XPS Crystal Certification. Waldo Limited, based in Louth,Lincolnshire, has been supplying the flexographic print industry for over 35 years, serving the markets of Flexible Packaging, Pre & Post Print Corrugated and Wide and Narrow Web Pre-Print with the latest in HD platemaking technology and Reprographics.
Stichnothe becomes the first German company to achieve Esko XPS Crystal Certification. Since the foundation, the company has stood for the combination of a modern machine park with competence, care, and responsibility. Stichnothe has a great history of delivering to the highest standards, and the XPS Crystal is part of that.
For over 70 years, SGS moved the design, graphic services, and production industry forward. With deep marketplace experience and client relationships that span decades, they’re driven to continuously deliver better for our partners.
Lincage Imaging Systems (‘Lincage’), the Philadelphia-based packaging pre-press and flexographic platemaking specialist, has become the first company in the USA to receive ‘best in class’ certification under the XPS Crystal Program from Esko.
“We track a lot of variables in the plate room. Among them, relief height, 2 percent dot size on plate, and 50 percent dot on plate. Relief height consistency of LED has long been understood, likely because it’s easy to measure and track, but you would be amazed at how much more stable the 50 percent dot on plate is with LED compared to bank light.” Dave Smith
"Redi Color is proud to be the first XPS Crystal Certified company in Mexico. Esko Crystal technology delivers quality, automated plate exposure to the workflow, aligning with the flexo business’s strategy to implement automated, environmentally friendly, and sustainable technologies." - Eliana Rodríguez, General Manager
“XPS allowed us to improve the Quality and keep it consistent overtime … gave us a new level of Standardization” Sebastian Longo, President
“With Crystal XPS, my clients in high end wide web flexo significantly reduced press set-up on jobs as a direct benefit of even and stable plates from the XPS LED process.” Stephane Pinel – President
“We converted all our production into XPS because of the quality, consistency and easy to use that the system deliver; and also to standardize our production process...” Diego Zarlenga, Managing Partner
Like the previous Esko invention that preceded it, Crystal XPS is the next step in FLEXO plate-making evolution. Its fusion of LED simultaneous exposure and sexy ergonomics provide the ultimate platform for even the most demanding “dot-worshipers.” Marek M. Skrzynski VP Technology & Innovation | GPN Coordinator
"The acquisition of technology and certificate with this level reinforce our commitment to our distinguished customers" - said Luis Cordero, Matriflexo Owner, the first trade shop in Ecuador that has received the XPS Certification from Esko.
At DP Studio we always make use of state-of-art technologies and with XPS Crystal we have innovated and further improved our plate exposure system, providing accuracy and speed to our work. We are delighted with the results obtained, and the most important are the benefits and high quality we are offering our Customers. XPS Certification comes to crown this new achievement! - Agnaldo Moraes, Technical Commercial Manager DP Studio
"With XPS Crystal, we further reaffirm our commitment to deliver high-performance plates, significant plate improvements and the highest level of consistency and repeatability" - Bruno Mello, Production Manager, Clicheria Blumenau
RRD can help solve your toughest challenges through the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of capabilities. We've tailored our solutions and inspired our clients to overcome challenges specific to their business. The results speak for themselves.
RRD Menasha, WI uses managed and automated workflows to reduce duplicate communications, eliminate opportunities for error, and to create files and plates that meet your specific needs, enabling your best possible print results.
"We consider the certification as a feather in our cap, and an endorsement of our focus on quality. Being an Esko XPS Crystal Certified partner means that Hotpack can now offer best-in-class plate quality and printing excellence to the highest standards." Abdul Jebber, Hotpack Group MD
"By adding XPS Crystal technology to our business, we not only have increased quality but also enhanced repeatability and consistency in our platemaking process. By using the Crystal Screens and managing the process with Print Control Wizard, we deliver our customers personalized plates adapted to their printing conditions." Julian Martinez, CEO
SGK is the proud recipient of two XPS Crystal certifications. A global packaging and brand experience company, it has bases in Europe, North America, and the APAC region. With over 1500 clients worldwide, SGK needs the best-in-class plate quality of XPS Certification to provide consistent results to their customers across the world. Cosimo Milazzo, Production Manager at SGK, said, “We are excited to receive our second XPS certification, this time in our Toronto plate making facility. Our investments in crystal technologies allow SGK to bring enhancement opportunities to our printer/convertor partners.”
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Polímeros y Tecnología, (‘Polytec’) is a leading flexible packaging manufacturer, servicing customers across Guatemala, Central America, Panama, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the USA. Using Esko XPS Crystal technology, Polytec now benefits from unparalleled platemaking consistency, increased efficiency and reduced ink consumption. “By incorporating Print Control Wizard into our automated platemaking setup, we were immediately able to harness the power of the XPS Crystal to improve our white ink opacity and appearance,” said Augusto Guerra, Prepress Manager with Polytec. “We have standardized our procedures so we can develop printing profiles in a very professional way, and we are now also on our way to reducing white ink consumption.”
Read the full case studyHow long does it take to become certified and receive a certificate?
It may take up to 30 days to become certified and receive certificates.
What is the cost of becoming certified?
The certification process is offered as a valuable part of your Crystal XPS maintenance contract. We recommend a maintenance contract to ensure your Crystal XPS remains in optimum condition. If you have no maintenance contract, we recommend ordering a preventive maintenance including the certification process.
How long is the certification valid?
The XPS certification is valid for 24 months.
Are we certifying “Third Party” plate making processes?
Esko is not certifying plates made with third party equipment or when non-Esko screens have been used.
Why is a mask and a processed plate checked for XPS certification?
Esko supports your quality control by verifying both imaging quality and the processing quality of your equipment in comparison to “Esko’s Certified Benchmark Reference”.
This provides a starting point and clear status of your platemaking equipment. Additionally, Esko offers a yearly re-certification option in order to be able to verify possible deviation of your process over time.
