EFI

With package printers on the hot seat for nimble customer responsiveness at the lowest possible cost, accurate real-time information is a must. WHEN IT COMES to cutting costs and investing in the future, package printers have always had plenty of options on how to spend their money. The list just keeps getting longer, and the opportunities more tantalizing. In recent years, business and production software has been climbing to the top of the list and increasingly winning the fight for the limited capital resources. The reasons for this vary, but ultimately, it boils down to the growing need to run highly efficient and

FOSTER CITY, Calif. - June 3, 2005 - EFI (Nasdaq:EFII), the world leader indigital imaging and print management solutions for commercial and enterprise printing, today announced it has completed its acquisition of VUTEk®, Inc., the top global provider of superwide format digital inkjet printers, for approximately $281 million, plus cash acquired. The acquisition is an all cash transaction. The company also raised guidance for the second quarter based on the earlier than previously anticipated close of the VUTEk® acquisition. For the second quarter ended June 30, 2005, EFI currently expects revenues in the range of $94 million to $94.5 million and pro forma diluted

Progressive package printers are finding new ways to open new levels of communication with their customers and attract new business. Digital workflows—and the Internet—are helping. ADVANCED DIGITAL WORKFLOWS, sporting Internet collaborative tools, are significant time savers for prepress departments—and are targeting the package printing environment with fervor. Gee Ranasinha, director of marketing at Dalim Software, reports one way a package printing operation can differentiate itself from its competition is by offering its customers the advantages of a more digitized workflow and online collaborative services. One such workflow is the DALiM MiSTRAL PACK, which provides converters a complete view of their entire prepress production. It

New digital proofing technologies streamline a critical process in the prepress workflow. by Marie Alonso, Prepress Editor ALL THE BUZZ in proofing is soft proofing, color calibration, and digital proofing for the packaging environment. And it has been for several years, but with increasing fervor, collaborations, and software enhancements. Companies aspiring to take leading positions in their respective specialties are joining the progressive package-printing leaders in deploying the latest, most sophisticated digital proofing technologies available. Electronics for Imaging (EFI) has truly redefined itself, acquiring Best Color in order to gain a strong hold on the digital proofing market. Today, it is strongly marketing its

Open-systems workflow solutions are redefining prepress operations for today's package printers. by: Marie Alonso, Prepress editor PACKAGING SERVES THE dual purpose of holding and protecting a product, while effectively presenting and selling the brand. Accordingly, the expectations placed on package printers are very high. Putting today's creative design ideas into practice calls for innovative, flexible solutions. As Heidelberg phrases it, the production process is characterized by seamless workflows, automated handling systems, in-line and off-line coating and finishing, and flexible formats. As workflow solutions move beyond commercial printing into the packaging environment, many companies are jumping on the JDF bandwagon with their automated, integrated