EFI (Electronics For Imaging) and Konica Minolta Business Solutions (KMBS) are bringing “advanced, high-quality wide-format inkjet imaging technology to a broader selection of the printing industry” through an expansion of their existing partnership. Under the terms of the new agreement, KMBS and its authorized dealer network will service and sell EFI wide-format LED and UV inkjet printers. The non-exclusive agreement expands the market presence for EFI to KMBS’s extensive customer base of North American digital printers. It also provides KMBS with a stronger wide-format production offering, using advanced technologies from EFI.
“This new agreement expands upon our long-term partnership with EFI,” said Kevin P. Kern, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Konica Minolta Business Solutions. “The unique attributes of EFI’s inkjet products allow us to offer new capabilities to our graphic communications customers, providing them access to new markets for high-value print.”
“EFI has a longstanding, successful strategic alliance with KMBS centered on the development of EFI Fiery products for Konica Minolta production equipment, and we are very pleased to have the opportunity to expand our partnership,” said Frank Mallozzi, EFI’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing. “We’re excited that KMBS, with its extensive distribution and deep relationship with customers, chose EFI wide-format products as a high-quality inkjet graphics platform to offer to its customers.” The two companies already work together to develop digital front ends that provide advanced colour imaging and production capabilities on Konica Minolta digital presses and printers.
EFI’s top-selling hybrid roll/flatbed wide-format product, the EFI H1625 LED printer, is the first printer available in KMBS sales channels through the new agreement. The versatile, 65-inch-wide printer gives KMBS customers the benefit of higher-end imaging using four colour grayscale printheads producing “near-photographic image quality with saturated colours and smooth gradations.”
The printer also offers EFI’s white ink, a differentiating feature that expands the productivity, value and quality users can offer on backlit signage, aluminum and aluminum-composite signage, window clings and other popular offerings printed on clear, metallic or coloured media. EFI’s “cool cure” LED technology on the printer reduces energy consumption and costs compared to arc lamp UV and latex inkjet printers, plus, it gives users the ability to print on a broader range of substrates – including media that can’t withstand high-heat drying or curing methods.
KMBS and authorized KMBS resellers will begin selling EFI LED wide-format hybrid printers in May.
