EFI is demonstrating a comprehensive range of UV-curable products at FESPA 2013, complemented by its workflow management and MIS/ERP systems. The company's stand will feature machines from its VUTEk and wide-format portfolios, including the new HS100 Pro which is making its debut in the UK, along with grayscale and LED-curing options.

With the emphasis on cost-effective and efficient production criteria, EFI's wide and superwide format printers all incorporate high levels of productivity and versatility, enabling businesses to grow their market reach and become more profitable. With the drive for greater productivity, minimizing waste and saving time throughout all processes, the company also now offers innovative marketing tools that complement the printing process.

Being shown in the UK for the first time, and heading the FESPA line up of wide and superwide format printers from EFI is the VUTEk HS100 Pro, which unlike competitive high-end platforms removes the need to compromise between speed and quality. This 3.2-meter flat-bed and roll-fed system has grayscale print-heads and benefits from a unique Pin & Cure technology that enables precision ink lay-down, even at the highest speeds, plus gloss control to produce different surface finishes.

More than 100 VUTEk installations go "green" with LED curing

Since the launch of LED (or Cool-Cure) technology at Fespa Digital 2010 in Hamburg, Germany, EFI has installed over 100 LED curing printers worldwide. Based on their average ink usage VUTEk LED users are experiencing approximately 50% more print volume than VUTEk GS models without LED curing, demonstrating that EFI Cool-Cure can help customers grow their business. Their expanded application range and versatility are the result of their ability to print on specialty substrates while increasing productivity and lowering operating costs. They produce no VOCs and less waste, use fewer consumables and less energy and have the ability to print on environmentally friendly materials without warping or head strikes.

"Our new VUTEk GS3250LX is more 'forgiving' when it comes to printing on vinyl and fabrics," said Tony Barnett, managing director of John E Wright, Nottingham, UK. "I expect the machine to add GBP1m in two years to the firm's turnover, currently GBP6.5m."

EFI's latest ink technology includes a thermoforming product that enables users to produce deeply formed applications on thermoplastic media for a broad range of applications where the ink must conform with the material without cracking or splitting. The elasticity of this ink is designed to withstand post-process heat forming, cutting and routing, and is optimized for use with the new VUTEk GS3250 Pro-TF and GS2000 Pro-TF wide-format UV-curable printers.

The new EFI Fiery(R) XF Version 5 now has a fully customizable interface and provides a flexible and scalable high-speed digital front end and color management workflow solution for wide and superwide format print specialists. Among its notable new features is a Web Control Center (WCC) which uses a SaaS model to deliver distribution of proofs via remote control between all sites using Colorproof XF and Fiery XF.

MIS/ERP productivity tools will also feature prominently at FESPA as printing companies acknowledge the need to streamline their operations, eliminate touch-points in their workflow, and improve communication.