Belgian company Athena Graphics, one of Europe’s leading pre-press companies for the flexo industry, has a world first following the implementation of Hybrid Software’s new product asset management system, PAM, which has been purchased as part of a suite that includes Cloudflow and Proofscope. The seamless integration into its existing pre-press environment means that Athena is already using the Hybrid Software products to handle some 800 jobs a month.

“We wanted a suite of products that would provide us with a platform that can be rapidly developed to create links to a wide range of other systems and Hybrid Software offers an excellent database with a web API plus the tools required to achieve this aim,” says managing director Ignace Cosaert. “We also needed a first class software viewer that does not require a Java applet.

“The key people at Hybrid Software have an extremely good reputation in the marketplace and if a supplier’s products are to become an important part of your daily workflow you have to be confident that they will support you at every stage in the future. Hybrid Software has been impressively fast at responding to our requests for software solutions that have overcome specific challenges, such as supporting some particular file formats that we have to cope with.”

Hybrid Software introduced its product asset management system at Ipex 2014 and has since received significant interest in it. Aimed at the label and packaging markets PAM offers multi-file server indexing plus the ability to search for assets based on names and metadata, as well as PDF files incorporating the same images. Assets can be tagged and metadata added. The operator can generate low resolution files and share these via direct invitation links or user spaces. The PAM system supports various file formats, and is able to interpret metadata standards such as XMP.

Cloudflow enables companies to easily create local and private cloud-based environments. Supported on Windows and Mac OSX, it interacts with external systems such as MIS/ERP and custom designed web pages, and can submit files to workflows via HTTP. Features include sophisticated routing based on database entries, metadata, form input etc, file management, approvals and communication facilities plus the ability to run scripts within workflows.

Proofscope allows online soft proofing, annotation and viewing. Designed to work with HTML5 and JavaScript, the viewer can be used with any tablet or mobile, unlike most other soft-proofing systems on the market. Proofscope operates with any standard web browser and does not require the installation of an applet or plug-in, which means that it conforms easily to IT security requirements.

“In addition to our main site in Roeselare, Belgium, we have premises in France and Holland,” says Ignace Cosaert. “The Hybrid Software products that we have implemented are now used by more than 120 people, split between some 50 companies around Europe. This not only includes Athena employees plus our printer and brand owner customers but also their own customers who are able to upload, view, edit and approve work online in a highly efficient manner. In every way the installation of the Hybrid Software products has been very successful.”