EFI chief Guy Gecht used this week’s pre-Drupa press conference to announce yet another acquisition - of Bradford-based Rialco - and to hint at a new printer platform that will be unveiled at the show that “combines the great concepts of the Cretaprint, Jetrion and Vutek machines.”
It is anticipated that the initial product will be built for colour printed corrugated packaging, but Gecht said it will be developed for other markets like signage and labels. It will run with a new ink that will also be announced at Drupa, and that will be “another combined concept product that takes from our water-based and LED and packaging inks.”
Gecht added: “Wide-format has been very successful for EFI since it bought Vutek in 2005. You will see the next big breakthrough at Drupa.”
The newly acquired Rialco, formed in 2003, is a supplier of dye powders and color products for digital print and industrial manufacturing industries. It will now operate as part of EFI's industrial inkjet business.