Athena Graphics receives ‘best in class’ certification under new Esko XPS Crystal program

Esko has awarded leading European prepress company Athena Graphics ‘best in class’ plate making certification under its recently launched XPS Crystal Certification Program.

“We are delighted that Athena Graphics is among the first to have achieved this accreditation,” said Pascal Thomas, Director of Flexo Business at Esko “The program was developed specifically to recognize those plate making businesses that consistently produce superior flexo plates, which lead to outstanding flexographic print quality. Not only is certification a way for companies like Athena to communicate their ‘best in class’ service offering to their supply chain partners and customers, but it also underlines their flexo platemaking excellence.”

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.

“Now in our 30th year, we have built our success and reputation on delivering the best service and quality products to our customers,” said Ignace Cosaert, managing director of Athena Graphics. “To ensure we maintain these standards, we are committed to continuous improvement of both the quality and the consistency of our product. This verification of our complete plate making process by an outside service provider like Esko is testament to the success of our efforts.”

The XPS Crystal Certification Program is open to all users of the innovative Esko XPS Crystal exposure unit, the award-winning technology that optimally combines UV main and back exposure, using LEDs that always emit consistent UV light.

“We have experienced a growing demand for the quality products that we offer, with increasing requests for even faster delivery,” said Mr Cosaert. “After more than a year of enjoying growing success with our XPS Crystal, we have invested in a second XPS Crystal to increase our capacity.”

As a certified Esko partner, Athena Graphics benefits from benchmarking and identification of best practice around quality control processes and production efficiency. Certification also enables the business to promote an extra level of quality assurance to customers, as well as providing reassurance of best practice in production processes and communicating the consistent quality of final print.

 “We developed the certification scheme to ensure the entire supply chain can meet the exacting needs and requirements of brands and converters in terms of predictable and accurate plate quality and the highest plate making consistency available, for any given photopolymer,” added Pascal. “Athena Graphics has a lengthy history of delivering to the highest standards, and we are pleased to be able to recognize that through our certification program.”