EFI to debut VUTEk HS100 Pro at FESPA alongside 'comprehensive' range of solutions

Reinforcing its position as the world leader in digital printing innovation, EFI is to demonstrate a comprehensive range of UV-curable products at FESPA 2013, complemented by its workflow management and MIS/ERP systems. The company’s stand will feature machines from its VUTEk and wide-format portfolios, including the new HS100 Pro which is making its debut in the UK, along with greyscale and LED-curing options.

With the emphasis on cost-effective and efficient production criteria, EFI’s wide- and superwide-format printers all incorporate high levels of productivity and versatility, enabling businesses to grow their market reach and become more profitable. With the drive for greater productivity, minimising waste and saving time throughout all processes, the company also now offers innovative marketing tools that complement the printing process.

Being shown in the UK for the first time, and heading the FESPA line up of wide- and superwide-format printers from EFI is the VUTEk HS100 Pro, which unlike competitive high-end platforms removes the need to compromise between speed and quality. This 3.2m flat-bed and roll-fed system has greyscale print-heads and benefits from a unique Pin & Cure technology that enables precision ink lay-down, even at the highest speeds, plus gloss control to produce different surface finishes.

More than 100 VUTEk installations go “green” with LED curing

Since the launch of LED (or Cool-Cure) technology at Fespa Digital 2010 in Hamburg, Germany, EFI has installed over 100 LED curing printers worldwide. Based on their average ink usage VUTEk LED users are experiencing approximately 50% more print volume than VUTEk GS models without LED curing, demonstrating that EFI Cool-Cure can help customers grow their business. Their expanded application range and versatility are the result of their ability to print on speciality substrates while increasing productivity and lowering operating costs. They produce no VOCs and less waste, use fewer consumables and less energy and have the ability to print on environmentally friendly materials without warping or head strikes.

“Our new VUTEk GS3250LX is more ‘forgiving’ when it comes to printing on vinyl and fabrics,” said Tony Barnett, managing director of John E Wright (Nottingham, UK.) “I expect the machine to add £1m in two years to the firm’s turnover, currently £6.5m.”

EFI’s latest ink technology includes a thermoforming product that enables users to produce deeply formed applications on thermoplastic media for a broad range of applications where the ink must conform with the material without cracking or splitting. The elasticity of this ink is designed to withstand post-process heat forming, cutting and routing, and is optimised for use with the new VUTEk GS3250 Pro-TF and GS2000 Pro-TF wide-format UV-curable printers.

The new EFI Fiery® XF Version 5 now has a fully customisable interface and provides a flexible and scalable high-speed digital front end and colour management workflow solution for wide- and superwide-format print specialists. Among its notable new features is a Web Control Center (WCC) which uses a SaaS model to deliver distribution of proofs via remote control between all sites using Colorproof XF and Fiery XF.

MIS/ERP productivity tools will also feature prominently at FESPA as printing companies acknowledge the need to streamline their operations, eliminate touch-points in their workflow, and improve communication. This move to greater accountability is simplified with EFI’s productivity products, with Pace and PrintSmith Vision business management software and Digital StoreFront web-to-print being examples that provide key elements for integration value increasingly by wide-format printer users.

Showing for the first time in Europe SmartSign Analytics captures and reports on the viewing of signs and displays via a webcam which runs facial recognition software. This monitoring system enables businesses to garner valuable data and reports gender and age range of the viewer, and time spent looking at a sign.

Combining of all its options for wide-format print providers and sign-makers, EFI is showing highly innovative solutions to new and existing customers by creating future-proof technologies. Full information and real-time demonstrations are available on the company’s stand at FESPA 2013, showing how printing companies can open the door to new and profitable opportunities.

For additional information about EFI, visit www.efi.com.