Xerox and Electronics For Imaging (EFI) recently demonstrated a new Fiery digital front end (DFE) at EFI Connect in Las Vegas.
This will give print providers a powerful new tool to manage high value jobs that require special embellishments and effects using dry inks including silver, gold and clear.

Keypoint Intelligence-InfoTrends projects that digital print enhancement volume will grow at a 27% compound annual growth rate through 2020, providing print operations with new business that promises both growth and profit.

“This new development by Xerox and EFI is a testament to the commitment by both suppliers to enrich their solutions with efficient production workflow, processing power and color management needed for the range of applications produced today,” says Ron Gilboa, group director at Keypoint Intelligence.

“These tools are critical for print providers who are looking to grow their business and offer their clients differentiated solutions including color and the use of special embellishments in metallic gold and silver.”

In February of last year, Xerox announced the sale of its FreeFlow Print Server (FFPS) DFE business to EFI, along with plans to work with EFI to market a single DFE to drive Xerox digital production presses. The new DFE combines features from the Xerox FFPS with the capabilities of the EFI Fiery DFE.

“This is an important step in our collaboration with EFI to offer our customers a single and more powerful DFE,” says Andrew Copley, president: graphic communications solutions at Xerox. “Customers will benefit not only from greater production efficiencies and performance capabilities, but also from increased support in the field.”

The new DFE delivers fast Raster Imaging Processor (RIP) speeds, seamless automation integration, and advanced workflow efficiency and productivity. Additional customer benefits include:

* Access to EFI’s sales and technical field resources working side-by-side with their Xerox sales reps.

* A standardised and simplified digital workflow. Fiery Command WorkStation provides a single, intuitive user interface across a customer’s entire print operation.

* Customised workflows for metallic applications. The DFE optimizes processing speeds for single or multiple jobs with Fiery HyperRIP technology.

* Colour management tools along with gold, silver and clear dry ink capabilities that allow customers to create more metallic effects and tactile embellishments for higher-value applications.

“Working with Xerox on the 2017 acquisition of FFPS technology marked a new level of cooperation in our longstanding partnership, and we are excited about the new technology that it has yielded,” says Toby Weiss, senior vice-president and GM of EFI Fiery.