Hybrid Software used its Labelexpo press conference to announce that it has acquired the Belgian company Conics, which specializes in consultancy and software development to help companies working in print and packaging integrate different software together for the solutions that fit their business.
Some of this integration work has involved Hybrid Software’s Cloudflow workflow solution, so the two companies are used to working together. This is Hybrid Software’s sixth acquisition in six years. Rottenborn noted, “They work with other prepress vendors and MIS. But what attracts us to them is their core focus. It’s hard to be both a software company and a professional services company.” He added, “We feel they have the same DNA and the same drive as us. They expand our core competence in graphics software and help us deliver to customers.”
Conics, which is based in Ypres in Belgium, was founded by Dries Maerten and Frederic Vandelanotte. Maerten says, “We offer three pillars of service.” These include, “Project management and consultancy to help our customers choose and integrate the correct software solutions that are available.” He added that Conics always tries to use standard, easily available software where possible.
He continues, “The second pillar is our tailor made solutions. If we can’t solve the problem with standard solutions on the market then we can create a new specific software for them.”
In addition, the company also has a number of specific products such as its Jaimes AI- based back office software. Maerten added, “We only work for the graphics industry. We work with commercial printers, packaging printers, labels, so narrow web and wide web.”
Conics will remain a separate business unit within Hybrid Software, and will continue to be managed by Maerten and Vandelanotte, from its Ypres base. Maerten told me that Conics will be as independent within Hybrid Software as before, “The goal for us is to implement the best applications for our customers. But if the best application isn’t from Hybrid Software then we will tell our customers. Most of the time the customer already has a certain application and if they are happy with that then we leave it. We would only recommend change if we have a very good reason.”
Rottenborn says that Conics will fit into the group’s offerings between Hybrid Software, which is mainly prepress software sold direct to prepress customers, and Brandz, which comprises mainly artwork management solutions sold to brand owners. He also picked out Conics AI development as an area that would contribute to Hybrid Software’s own plans for further development of its products.
Hybrid Group updates
Hybrid software has also recently announced that Brandz has been brought fully into the portfolio, having previously been set up as a joint venture.
Besides the acquisition, Rottenborn used the press conference to highlight a number of recent announcements for Hybrid’s own software. That includes the Packz PDF-based prepress editing software, which has over 6000 installations worldwide. Packz 11, which was announced earlier this year. In addition he introduced a new Packz Max version, which gains an integrated Harlequin RIP that can be used to generate a preview to show exactly what the dots will look like. There’s no extra charge for this feature, though it can also be used to make plates, which does attract a further license charge.
The group has won awards earlier this year for its Colourspace solution, which puts some of the color management tools from ColorLogic into a module for CloudFlow. Rottenborn says this module can be used as a standalone color management feature for companies that are not otherwise Hybrid Software customers.
Hybrid Software has also integrated the Saueressig Group’s AI-powered image search software Matches into its CloudFlow workflow platform. Rottenborn pointed out that this would allow trade shops to find similar jobs from their own jobs library. It will work from text, vector graphics and images.
Conics’ intelligent workflow automation comes to the global stage
Labelexpo Europe 2025 in Barcelona was the first exhibition in which Conics has taken part. Indicating its global ambitions the company showed its complete intelligent toolbox for modern label production at the Hybrid Software group stand.
These production efficiency tools included: 🧠 jAImes – The smart AI-assistant designed to automate back-office tasks, streamline communication, and bridge ERP with prepress systems; 🛠️ Scotty 2 – A flexible and intuitive project builder to accelerate prepress setup; and, ⚙️ AFS – A smart digital anilox roll monitoring platform ensuring quality print across various production sites.
Together, these tools embody Conics’ mission to simplify and complement leading industry workflows through close technical partnerships. “This is more than just an exhibition for us,” says Duong Ngoc Tu, Business developer at Conics. “It’s a statement that we’re ready to scale, connect globally, and bring smarter tools to the label and packaging industry.”
You can find further information about the Hybrid Software group from hybridsoftware.com. First published on 22nd September 2025 in the Graphics and Manufacturing Journal. Republished with permission.
