Product Debuts and Focused Education Mark 19th EFI Connect

As the 19th annual EFI Connect conference wraps up today in Las Vegas, attendees of the users’ group conference are leaving with lots of new ideas to help them profit from the analog-to-digital transition.

Beyond the insightful keynotes and information-packed training sessions — including several in-plant-focused sessions — the event also featured the debut of several new EFI products, most notably EFI MarketDirect, a cross-media customer engagement platform that gives printers the power to deliver comprehensive management on loyalty programs, offers, newsletters, surveys and other customer communication programs. (Read more.)

Midmarket Print Suite 6.0 announced at #Eficonnect @EFIPrint pic.twitter.com/brggivbvYe

— In-plant Impressions (@IP_Impressions) January 24, 2018

Other debuts included:

• 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 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.

• Escada software, EFI’s recently acquired, robust corrugated process control product.

Production opportunities with advanced inkjet innovations

Fast, sustainable, and superior-quality wide- and superwide-format inkjet imaging technologies were 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;
• The new EFI Pro 24f dedicated flatbed LED printer.

CEO Guy Gecht chats with attendees during the opening reception.

EFI also showcased a virtual reality demo of the EFI Nozomi C18000 ultra-high-speed single-pass LED inkjet corrugated packaging press.

EFI partner Ricoh Americas Corp. was 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, showcased 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.

As part of the new in-plant track at #efiConnect Ling Wang discusses How In-plants Can Automate Workflow to Stay Competitive pic.twitter.com/OCXkJyLIZU

— In-plant Impressions (@IP_Impressions) January 24, 2018

EFI partners’ new Fiery-based DFEs include the new version 6 of Fiery Command WorkStation – an 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 also demonstrated 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 featured 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.

The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with IPG. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of IPG.