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82 | L&L<br />
on a deep, personal level. As people<br />
intersect with their photos on sites like<br />
Facebook they realize that they should<br />
do something with them. We’re here<br />
to provide the mechanisms that allow<br />
people to do more with their memories.<br />
You’ll see Shutterfly continue to make<br />
meaningful investments in the multimedia<br />
world.’<br />
EFI’s number one request is to enhance<br />
print capabilities for the iPad and iPhone.<br />
The company is actively working to bring<br />
advanced cloud based applications,<br />
mobile applications, personalization<br />
opportunities, digital store front systems<br />
and more to market that will simplify a<br />
user’s experience and streamline digital<br />
workflow. It is investing heavily in security<br />
for cloud facilities, and will continue to<br />
focus on integration software that allows<br />
the various pieces in print production to<br />
work well together.<br />
Still, there is much room to educate end<br />
users in all sectors on how to take true<br />
advantage of digital printing. The window<br />
of opportunity waits. It’s just a matter<br />
of time before the CPG community<br />
shifts its systems to effectively utilize<br />
the personalization capabilities of the<br />
technology, transforming the way brands<br />
communicate with consumers, directly,<br />
using current dynamic and future<br />
channels.<br />
EFI RADIUS<br />
EFI’s APPS (Advanced Professional<br />
Printing Software) division, which<br />
consists of MIS/ERP systems and<br />
web-to-print automation software,<br />
including Radius for labels and<br />
packaging, has annual revenue of 85<br />
million US dollars, making it 10 times<br />
larger than the next biggest competitor,<br />
according to EFI. SVP and GM of<br />
the APPS group, Marc Olin, said the<br />
company would continue to find both<br />
organic and acquisitive growth just<br />
before he announced the purchase of<br />
Metrics Sistemas, formerly the largest<br />
MIS provider in Brazil. The acquisition<br />
has established EFI Business Software<br />
Latin America offering the most benefits<br />
for web-based development, but will also<br />
support hardware sales in the market<br />
and offer possibilities for Radius.<br />
EFI Radius print management software,<br />
designed specifically for the label and<br />
packaging sectors, has grown 35 percent<br />
through 2011 since EFI acquired the firm<br />
in 2010. The acquisition of Prism in 2011<br />
has formalized the software provider’s<br />
movement into South Africa and with the<br />
Metrics Sistemas inclusion, EFI Radius is<br />
poised to be more globally oriented.<br />
LABELS&LABELING<br />
David Taylor, general manager of<br />
EFI Radius, said, ‘We intend to have a<br />
standardized product and regular release<br />
cycles. Typically we’ve done whatever<br />
customers ask for, but in the long-term,<br />
this is not a sustainable platform to be<br />
able to grow. We will transition as a<br />
business and move to the next level.’<br />
In April 2012, EFI Radius released a<br />
new version of its software. The 13.1<br />
enhancements including: Integration with<br />
SmartLinc, SmartWare and SmartLinc<br />
Process Shipper to pass shipping<br />
information to various parties; new<br />
flexible packaging enhancements; MRP<br />
with streamlined estimating modules<br />
for self-adhesive labels with rollouts<br />
for flexibles and cartons to come;<br />
Introduction of ‘routing logic’ – based<br />
on product code and die selection route<br />
within the plant; Radius web portal built<br />
allowing users to define what is exposed<br />
to clients; merge Prism QTMS visual<br />
management tool to monitor shop floor<br />
efficiency; tighter integration with the<br />
Jetrion press’ digital workflow.<br />
EFI JETRION<br />
Two percent of the labels produced in<br />
the world are digitally printed. With the<br />
launch of the Jetrion 4900 at Labelexpo<br />
Europe, an inte grated UV digital inkjet<br />
option for the labels market with inline<br />
laser die-cutting, EFI Jetrion plans<br />
to increase the market share of<br />
digital labels.<br />
Jetrion president Sean Skelly said,<br />
‘Converters have responded very well<br />
to the 4900 because it looks more<br />
like a traditional label press. When<br />
conventional machines have only 40<br />
percent uptime, the speeds of 80 ft/<br />
min with laser finishing by SEI are<br />
competitive, shifting our labels solution<br />
from digital printing to digital production.’<br />
The manufacturer has installed 10<br />
Jetrion 4900 presses around the world,<br />
including a couple of sales to commercial<br />
printers and Vutek customers looking<br />
to diversify. They were less concerned<br />
about getting into the finishing side of<br />
labels with a full digital option.<br />
EFI knows that the future is bright for<br />
digital in the package printing market.<br />
The plans are for Jetrion to continue to<br />
improve its technology, introducing wider,<br />
faster, higher resolution systems with<br />
better print quality, that are more reliable,<br />
offer more colors – possibly security<br />
inks – modularity and upgradability. It<br />
will expand its integration partnerships<br />
for MIS, finishing and new markets like<br />
flexible packaging, which would include<br />
an option for low migration inks.<br />
HOT OFF THE PRESS<br />
A ROUND-UP OF THE LATEST<br />
GLOBAL LABEL STORIES<br />
EFI REPORTS 93 PERCENT<br />
BOOST IN INK VOLUME<br />
EFI has reported a significant increase in year<br />
over year ink sales, with a record 93 percent<br />
boost in ink volume for the Jetrion segment<br />
alone in Q1 2012, compared with the same<br />
quarter last year.<br />
JET EUROPE REPRESENTS<br />
XEIKON THERMOFLEXX<br />
Jet Europe has signed a Europe-wide<br />
distributor contract for Xeikon’s new range<br />
of ThermoFlexX imagers. Based on the<br />
agreement, Jet Europe will be one of the<br />
Xeikon sales and distribution partners<br />
whereas Xeikon’s worldwide service network<br />
will provide local installation, training and<br />
service for the full range of ThermoFlexX<br />
products.<br />
EDI ACQUIRES PREMIER DIES<br />
Extrusion Dies Industries (EDI), a portfolio<br />
company of Bertram Capital, has acquired<br />
Premier Dies Corporation, a provider of slot<br />
coating and flat polymer extrusion dies.<br />
API FOILS OPENS IN POLAND<br />
API Foils Europe has opened a new<br />
distribution center in Warsaw, Poland, aimed<br />
at serving the growing eastern European<br />
market. API Folie Polska will be staffed<br />
by a local team managed by business<br />
development manager Pawel Lisonek.<br />
UPM RAFLATAC<br />
CERTIFIED IN OCEANIA<br />
UPM Raflatac has been granted FSC and<br />
PEFC chain of custody certificates for its<br />
labelstock operations in Australia and New<br />
Zealand.<br />
XEIKON APPOINTMENTS<br />
IN ASIA PACIFIC<br />
Xeikon has strengthened its presence in<br />
the Asia Pacific region with two senior<br />
appointments. Josep Roca joins as sales<br />
area manager, taking responsibility for further<br />
developing digital printing business – both<br />
in the document printing and label and<br />
packaging markets – as well as the new<br />
ThermoFlexX flexo imager lines of business in<br />
the region. Li Yuk Ngong has been appointed<br />
service manager for the same region. Both<br />
will be based in Singapore.
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