[dropcaps style=’2′]SGK, a global brand development, activation and brand deployment company, has signed an agreement with Hybrid Software to license its PackZ native PDF editor for use in all SGK facilities worldwide. This agreement was reached after an extensive pilot program in multiple facilities in the US, Europe, and Asia.[/dropcaps]

PackZ is a powerful object-based native PDF artwork editor for packaging, with sophisticated color handling, intelligent objects, trapping, warping, and stepping capabilities. It can also import and export native Adobe Illustrator files for SGK to exchange with designers, brand customers, and print providers.

In the coming year, SGK plans to install 425 PackZ licenses at their production facilities in North and South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Gary Kohl, president, SGK Brand Solutions, stated, “The relationship with Hybrid Software gives us the opportunity to fundamentally reimagine how we manage our workflows, and will allow us to drive efficiency across our platform so that we can continue to be the most competitive graphics provider in our industry.”

“Hybrid Software is honored to be an instrumental part in SGK’s quest for generating the technology of the future in Order Lifecycle Management,” states Guido Van der Schueren, chairman of the board of Hybrid. “This partnership is natural since Hybrid is targeting the production side of the label and packaging pre-media market, and SGK is strongly focused on the brand owners which form a large part of its customer base. Together, SGK and Hybrid Software can provide better productivity tools resulting in superior service towards the brand owner community. The goal is seamless connectivity across product management, marketing, and advertising to be able to take action across the different platforms.”