Agfa and EFI have entered into a global strategic partnership aimed at leveraging each other’s cutting-edge technologies to be launched at FESPA Amsterdam in March.
A joint statement issued simultaneously in Belgium and USA by both businesses describe the collaboration between two industry leaders as a significant milestone in the wide-format inkjet printing arena.
Members of the Australian industry have already described the deal as “making sense” while others have said “the devil will be in the detail and we will see what the future brings”.
This will provide Agfa with access to EFI’s 5m roll to roll machine technology and provide EFI with access to Agfa inkjet technology. “Both printing platforms have established themselves as frontrunners in their respective fields, the joint statement said.
“Customers and prospects stand to gain unparalleled advantages from this strategic collaboration. Through the mutual strengthening of the Agfa and EFI portfolios, both companies can present the broadest and most innovative product offering available in the market today, as well as a reliable service infrastructure.”
“The collaboration will debut on the global stage at the FESPA trade fair in Amsterdam (19-22 March 2024), where Agfa and EFI will be showcasing the potential of this dynamic collaboration at their respective booths. Agfa and EFI are committed to continuous innovation and expanding the horizons of inkjet printing. Customers can benefit from the strengths and innovative solutions of both companies while maintaining relationships with their existing partners,” the statement said.
Pascal Juéry, CEO of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, said: “Digital Print is one of our company’s key growth engines. This strategic partnership with industry leader EFI will broaden the range of options we can offer to our customers and expand the market reach for our state-of-the-art solutions. It truly is a milestone for our company and for the wide-format printing industry at large.”
Arnaud Calleja, Vice-President Digital Printing Solutions at Agfa, commented: “We are thrilled to be partnering with EFI. By integrating their roll-to-roll platform into our sign & display offerings, we are poised to deliver an exceptionally diverse product range with unprecedented value to our customer base. At the same time, we can both maintain a dedicated focus on product innovation within our respective specialized domains, ensuring our technologies remain at the forefront of digital print transformation.”
Frank Pennisi, CEO of EFI, stated: “For over thirty years, EFI has focused on the analog to digital conversion of high-value print applications. EFI and Agfa are the most trusted brands in the industry and we now have the ability to accelerate our customers’ digital journey and make them even more productive. We are excited for this next chapter and the ability to leverage the strengths of both organizations to move the industry forward.”
Todd Zimmerman, SVP/GM Display Graphics & OEM Ink at EFI, stated: “This partnership represents a convergence of industry leaders, each bringing unique strengths to the table. The integration of Agfa’s hybrid platform into our solutions reaffirms our commitment to providing our customers with the most advanced and comprehensive options available.”
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