EFI Showcases New Textile and Flatbed Technology

Frank Mallozzi, SVP Sales and Marketing, EFI, highlighted Buffalo, NY-based DKM Ad Art, which uses EFI’s VUTEk GS Pro-TF series to create custom thermoform jobs in minutes.

On Tuesday, October 10, EFI (Booth 1501) held a press conference to discuss its new technology, as well as the overall inkjet opportunity and trends in the marketplace.

Scott Schinlever, SVP Inkjet, EFI, noted marketplace trends are driven by three main factors: brands; point of sale/point of purchase; and customer experience, new applications and increased regionalization. Because of this, printed output is becoming more complex.

EFI has responded to the demands in the industry with new technology, including the EFI Pro 24f flatbed printer, which will be making its worldwide debut at EFI’s booth. According to Ken Hanulee, VP Marketing Inkjet, EFI, the new press is designed to “give signage and graphics providers a sharp competitive edge.”

The press boasts a 4 x 8-foot bed, as well as the capability to print specialty applications up to 2 inches thick, in four-colors plus White. The press also includes EFI’s LED and variable drop grayscale head technology and is driven by EFI Fiery proServer Core DFE technology.

Hanulee also described EFI’s digital textile printer, the Reggiani ReNOIR FLEXY, on display at the booth. The 1.8-meter wide device is positioned as an affordable way to allow any business to enter the industrial textile market.

Also at the show this year is the EFI VUTEk FabriVU 340, EFI VUTEk LX3 Pro, EFI VUTEk 3r, EFI Pro 16h, the virtual reality experience of the EFI VUTEk HS125 Pro, along with coatings, thermoformatting deomonstrations and more.

Finally, Frank Mallozzi, SVP Sales and Marketing, EFI, took the floor to talk about the customer experience. He highlighted one customer in particular, Buffalo, NY-based DKM Ad Art, which uses EFI’s VUTEk GS Pro-TF series to create custom thermoform jobs in minutes, which, Mallozzi noted, would have taken days on analog equipment.

When asked what keeps EFI customers up at night, feedback provided included globalization; new revenue streams; reduced costs and increased efficiency; more customers and more share of wallet; consolidation; margin pressure and hiring and retaining sales talent.

EFI is working to fill in the gaps to alleviate the concerns of customers and meet their evolving needs, acknowledged Mallozzi.

“We love what we do, we love creating new markets,” he said, “and we love sharing it with you.”