As printing companies seek the best ways to reduce
costs, increase productivity and capture new market opportunities, many of them
are getting educated on the advanced, integrated capabilities from Electronics
For Imaging, Inc. presented at the 19th annual EFI Connect conference. The
January 23-26 event – one of the printing industry’s largest, longest-running
and most influential users’ group conferences – provides attendees with the
latest training and technology details to help them profit from the analog to
digital transition. Connect also features the debut of several new EFI
products, including:
- EFI VUTEk HS125 Pro and HS100 Pro Fast-4 hybrid flatbed/roll inkjet press models that offer a range of super-fast 4-color grayscale modes, with speeds up to 225 boards per hour. This enables more cost-effective grayscale production of distance-viewed signage and graphics.
- The EFI VUTEk FabriVU 340i, a soft signage printer that delivers a lower cost of entry into high-growth soft signage applications by offering fully integrated inline sublimation without compromising engine speed or quality.
- Version 6 of EFI’s Enterprise Commercial, Midmarket Print, Publication, Quick Print, Packaging and Corrugated Packaging Productivity Suites for advanced, end-to-end business and production MIS/ERP workflows.
- EFI MarketDirect, a next-generation cross media customer engagement platform that gives printing companies the power to deliver comprehensive management on loyalty programs, offers, newsletters, surveys and other customer communication programs.
- Escada software, EFI’s recently acquired, robust corrugated process control product.
- EFI iQuote technology for enhanced estimating of versioned and variable-data digital print work.
- EFI Optitex 3D Design Illustrator, a plug-in tool for the fashion textile space that gives designers the freedom to validate and customize 3D garments in Adobe Illustrator.
Many of the new opportunities for customers
discussed at Connect reflect a market redefinition happening for the print
industry in the wake of continued digital industrial transformation. During his
opening keynote speech at Connect, EFI CEO Guy Gecht said, “The new Print is
all about putting spectacular images on essentially any material. With digital
inkjet technology and automation, the new Print brings immense opportunity in
the era of the fourth industrial revolution.”
Production opportunities with advanced inkjet
innovations
Fast, sustainable, and superior-quality wide- and
superwide-format inkjet imaging technologies are also prominent at Connect,
including technologies customers can use to move into fast-growing soft signage
and industrial packaging applications. Printers on display at the show include
the EFI VUTEk FabriVU 340 soft-signage fabric printer, the VUTEk 3r
roll-to-roll LED printer; the EFI VUTEk GS3250LX Pro hybrid LED printer; and
the new EFI Pro 24f dedicated flatbed LED printer. EFI is also showcasing a new
virtual reality demo of the EFI Nozomi C18000 ultra-high-speed single-pass LED
inkjet corrugated packaging press. EFI partner Ricoh Americas Corp. is featuring EFI
inkjet technology as well, with the versatile, 65-inch wide EFI Pro 16h hybrid
LED printer running in its booth at Connect.
Streamlined digital production printing with EFI
Fiery technology
Several partners, including Ricoh, Xerox, Konica
Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. and Riso, will showcase print engines
running EFI Fiery digital front ends (DFEs). The new, scalable Fiery FS300 Pro
DFE platform used in several new print engines from EFI partners can handle
high-speed sheetfed and ultra-high-speed continuous-feed B1 production and
offers new features for superior color, performance, usability and integration.
EFI partners’ new Fiery-based DFEs include the new
version 6 of Fiery Command WorkStation – a highly advanced user interface with
new preview, search and reprint functions that can serve as the single point of
control for multiple Fiery Driven production devices. EFI is also demonstrating
upcoming Fiery products: Fiery Command WorkStation for wide- and
superwide-format inkjet and Fiery Navigator dashboard analytics for wide- and
superwide-format inkjet.
Additional partners participating in Connect’s
solutions center include: 3M Commercial Solutions; Aberdeen Fabrics; Duplo;
Enfocus; Esko; Kodak; Motioncutter; OneVision; The Print and Graphics
Scholarship Foundation; Print ReLeaf; Progress Software Corp.; SpencerMetrics;
X-Rite Pantone; Xeikon; and Zünd.
EFI Connect’s extensive conference program features
more than 200 sessions covering technical, business management, marketing and
more for an audience of commercial print, signage and graphics, packaging and
in-plant production executives from 23 countries. Special keynotes at this
year’s conference include a pair of fireside chat discussions with the first
two users of EFI’s breakthrough Nozomi press: Eric Bacourt, CEO of Hinojosa
Packaging Solutions and Mal McGowan, CEO of McGowans Print.
Now going into its 19th year, EFI Connect attracts
print professionals worldwide for a collection of in-depth, informative
training and education on key management and tech challenges for printing and
packaging companies. The conference is an ideal venue for open dialogue and
idea exchange, giving customers a valuable opportunity to participate in
educational sessions, receive hands-on experience, discuss industry trends,
network with peers, voice their opinions and learn from others.
For more information about the conference, visit
www.efi.com/connect.
