ECO3 announces a strategic partnership with NELA, a leading provider of automated plate handling and pre-press logistics solutions. The collaboration extends ECO3’s upcoming APOGEE IQ platform into physical plate automation, further connecting prepress workflows with pressroom operations.
Announced in September 2026, APOGEE IQ is ECO3′s next-generation platform for connected print production, integrating business systems, production equipment, and operational data into one environment.
The partnership with NELA extends these capabilities into automated plate handling and pre-press logistics. By connecting production planning with plate validation, tracking, and delivery, the integration will help printers reduce manual intervention, minimize errors, and gain greater visibility across the entire plate lifecycle.
“The print industry continues to move toward connected, data-driven production,” said Tobias Lerch, Director Hard- & Software R&D, at NELA. “Our partnership with ECO3 combines NELA’s leadership in plate automation with the workflow intelligence of APOGEE IQ, creating new opportunities for printers to optimize operations, reduce waste, and improve pressroom performance.”