To help converters, package printers and their supply-chain partners achieve a more effective end-to-end workflow solution, an expanded Digital Front End (DFE) Pavilion has been organized for CMM Intl. 2005, set for April 18-21 at Chicago's McCormick Place.

Called "The World of Digital Workflow Solutions," the expanded pavilion will serve as a "one-stop-shopping" oasis where converters and package printers from around the globe can discover all the latest products and technologies from the leading suppliers of digital equipment and services, says show organizer Paperloop, New York. New for the 2005 event will be a Solutions Theater, offering insightful presentations from leading industry experts on the major trends and hottest topics driving this rapidly expanding market segment. Included will be computer-to-plate options and solutions for Offset, Flexo and Gravure; color management for those who work in more than just CMYK; digital asset management; PDF workflows designed for packaging; proofing-digital, remote and soft; and screening technologies.

"Regardless of what printing method a converter uses, DFE and workflow solutions are becoming a key component of many operations," says Kevin Karstedt, CEO of Karstedt Associates and the coordinator of the DFE Pavilion for CMM. "It's one of the fastest growing areas of the converting process because it can help decrease turnaround times for package printers by 40 percent or more."

Karstedt believes that effective end-to-end workflow solutions can reduce the time from proof approval to job-on-press by more than 45 percent. He also predicts that close to 20 percent of all high-end flexo package printing is now being produced using printing plates that have been imaged on a digital plate system.

The first DFE "resource center" debuted at CMM Intl. 99. Since then, the DFE area has grown to become a highly trafficked area where companies such as Artwork Systems, Creo, Daetwyler, Esko Graphics, Kodak Polychrome Graphics, Sun Chemical, X-Rite and many others have introduced new technology to the converting marketplace.