EFI has purchased Xerox’s FreeFlow print server (FFPS), looking to integrate it with its own Fiery rip to bring to market what it says will be next generation digital front end (DFE) to drive Xerox digital printers.

EFI says it will continue to produce and support FFPS so current customers do not experience interruptions in sales or service.

Guy Gecht, CEO, EFI says “This next step in our strategic alliance will give customers the industry’s highest performing DFE with unparalleled imaging and colour management.”

The companies say that the agreement is for FFPS only and does not include other products in the FreeFlow sub-brand name (FreeFlow Core, FreeFlow VI Suite, FreeFlow Makeready and FreeFlow Digital Publisher), which will remain wholly owned by Xerox.

It is not the first co-venture for the companies, who collaborated to develop the Xerox IJ print server powered by Fiery, which drives the Xerox Trivor 2400 inkjet press.

Jim Hamilton, group director of independent analyst InfoTrends, says “This acquisition by EFI is beneficial to both parties. EFI gains important intellectual property as well as the flexibility to integrate it tightly with its own Fiery assets. For Xerox the move transfers the development and support of FFPS to an acknowledged market leader.”

EFI says the next generation DFE coming from this partnership will be integrated with its Productivity Suites, which include management information systems such as Pace, PrintSmith Vision, Monarch, and Radius ERP. Additionally, the DFE will integrate with Xerox FreeFlow Core and XMPie workflows, as well as third-party prepress solutions such as Agfa Apogee, Heidelberg Prinect, and Kodak Prinergy. 

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