Perfetti Van Melle (PVM) is a multi-national manufacturer of confectionery and gum. They offer innovative local flavors for numerous renowned international brands and distribute them to 150 countries worldwide. Since their final packaging includes a mix of materials including labels, foil, paper, paperboard, and shrink sleeves, each of their global printers must achieve accurate color on every substrate to portray a unified brand presence on the shelf… which is not an easy task.
PVM selected X-Rite Pantone to help them implement a color management strategy to improve consistency and help their printers take ownership of quality. Their end-to-end digital color solution includes:
- eXact spectrophotometer, which they distribute to their operating companies around the globe to validate the color of CMYK and spot-color inks. Instead of internally checking color tolerance once the packaging has been produced, PVM requires all their printers and converters to measure color and compare it against approved brand color targets. If color is out of tolerance, the packaging does not ship, saving time and waste for a more sustainable workflow.
- NetProfiler device optimization and performance software to ensure all eXact devices are measuring consistently across the supply chain. If a device is measuring out of tolerance, NetProfiler will correct the deviation or notify that service is needed to help avoid color errors and rework.
- ColorCert Pressroom Tools which Selection, PVM’s pre-media company that does the brand color separations, RAW designs, and graphics, uses to set targets for CMYK, PMS, PVM colors and over-printed colors directly in each job for real-time process control.
- ColorCert ScoreCard Server, which PVM installed at their quality control centers around the world to track and report finished print quality and identify areas for improvement. Every printed order is evaluated for quality at the in-bound stage.
With a color management strategy in place, PVM quality control specialists now use the eXact to measure and compare against the same color targets to confirm accuracy, then upload the values into ColorCert and generate a shareable scorecard. This strategy has been implemented at several PVM printers, directly web connected, in Europe, North America, Latin America, China, and SE Asia. The printers load their own data into ColorCert, further streamlining the process.
According to Angelo Mazzacani, Packaging Production Director at Selection, “X-Rite solutions have helped us be more pragmatic about color quality and management. Thanks to our eXact measurement devices and NetProfiler software, we have been able to dramatically reduce color deviation and objectively rank each single printing supplier. With ColorCert, everyone is clearly aware of our expectations. We are very satisfied with the outcome and are confident to move forward with our brand color consistency strategy.”
Perfetti Van Melle Upgrades to ColorCert ScoreCard Server 2.0
X-Rite Pantone recently released ColorCert ScoreCard Server 2.0. When used as part of a brand quality control program, this new version offers print suppliers the ability to configure dashboards and create automated, tailored quality reports.
Angelo Mazzacani was among the first in line to try it.
X-Rite: Why did you decide to upgrade to ColorCert 2.0?
Mazzacani: We were looking for a new platform to improve the Brand Owner perspective without losing any important features of the printing process and environment.
X-Rite: How did you collaborate with X-Rite Pantone to make the transition to ScoreCard Server 2.0?
Mazzacani: We set up a cross functional team that enabled all of us to “think outside of the box.” The outcome was a renewed platform which helped to support brand owners like Perfetti Van Melle.
X-Rite: What are you most excited about in version 2.0?
Mazzacani: There are several positive features that are helping us to better understand color deviation, according to different colors, substrates, and printing processes, across all our operating companies and together with hundreds of printing converters. ColorCert ScoreCard Server 2.0 gives us the opportunity to fine tune our color targets and tolerances, despite the different substrates used, so we can improve our brand color consistency.
According to Jason Campbell, ColorCert Product Manager at X-Rite Pantone, “We are happy to be working closely with Perfetti Van Melle to enhance this new version of ColorCert Scorecard Server, which offers brands, pre-media, and print production managers real-time visibility into color performance across presses and between production facilities. This new release also offers advanced reporting and analytics tools that enable brands to drill down into specific jobs, compare color quality between print and packaging component runs, and uncover trends to improve sustainability initiatives.”
Learn More About Color Consistency for Your Brand
To learn more about the cost of a brand color in packaging, download our free whitepaper, or read our How Digital Color Technology Connects Packaging Tasks blog to learn about the issues associated with traditional print programs and how to add digital color.
Our Color Experts are available to talk about your specific brand color needs. Get in touch.
