Xeikon and EFI Entering into a Strategic Partnership for Digital Label Printing

Xeikon to provide exclusive worldwide sales, service and support for EFI™ Jetrion® narrow web inkjet systems


FREMONT, Calif. and EEDE, the Netherlands, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (Nasdaq:EFII) and Xeikon, a division of Flint Group, today announced they have entered into an exclusive partnership for the EFI™ Jetrion® digital label and narrow web inkjet printing systems. Under the partnership, Xeikon will service, support and supply the worldwide Jetrion customer base, and continue the direct sales of Jetrion digital label printing systems as part of the Xeikon portfolio of digital dry toner and UV inkjet presses for the self-adhesive label market.

“EFI Jetrion printing systems have helped to establish the market for industrial digital inkjet label production, and the numerous innovations developed for high-resolution Jetrion technology – including high-end, production-class LED imaging, superior opaque white ink and true all-in-one integrated print, varnish, cut and slit systems – have given EFI Jetrion the largest installed base of UV inkjet label presses in the world,” said Guy Gecht, EFI CEO. “As we expand our portfolio of industrial inkjet products, we prioritized our go to market investment and resources. It was a clear choice for us to pick Xeikon, one of the undisputed leaders in digital label printing, as the ideal partner to continue a trustworthy sales and service operation for the Jetrion product line.”

“Knowing that our label customers will be in excellent hands in this partnership, we are looking forward to working closely with Xeikon to continue to provide ink for our current and future customers,” Gecht continued, “as we look for opportunities to expand this partnership to Productivity Software and future innovation.”

Benoit Chatelard, President and CEO Digital Solutions, Flint Group, stated: “Xeikon is the perfect partner to market, service and support the EFI Jetrion product line as both companies share a common goal of delivering exceptional value, unparalleled service, consistent quality and continuous innovation – values we are committed to secure in the future for all Jetrion customers worldwide. Xeikon is a technology-agnostic solutions provider with almost 30 years of experience in digital printing. With over 500 digital label presses installed worldwide, we are an acknowledged leader in the self-adhesive label market. Xeikon has the broadest digital label printing offering in the market, including workflow, presses, embellishment modules and converting equipment, and a worldwide service and support network that is unparalleled in the label market. All our customers are fully trained, serviced and supported through direct, first-line contact with Xeikon engineers, and this will be no different for the Jetrion customers.”

Digital label and narrow web printing systems meet the growing demand for shorter runs, versioning, faster turnarounds and inventory reduction, while increasing customers’ margin potential on short-run label quantities of 100 or less up to runs of 50,000 or more.

Jetrion users will benefit from superior customer care focused on advanced digital production operations, thanks to a strong Xeikon field presence with more than 100 dedicated service and support personnel worldwide.

As part of the exclusive partnership, the Jetrion product line will complement Xeikon’s digital label press portfolio, which includes the high-end Xeikon Cheetah Series and entry-level Xeikon 3000 Series of dry toner label presses as well as the high-end Xeikon Panther Series of UV inkjet label presses. Adding the Jetrion product line to its portfolio, Xeikon continues to expand its range of technology and digital label printing capabilities that address the very specific requirements of label printers and converters.

About EFI
EFI™ is a global technology company, based in Silicon Valley, and is leading the worldwide transformation from analog to digital imaging. We are passionate about fueling customer success with products that increase competitiveness and boost productivity. To do that, we develop breakthrough technologies for the manufacturing of signage, packaging, textiles, ceramic tiles, and personalized documents, with a wide range of printers, inks, digital front ends, and a comprehensive business and production workflow suite that transforms and streamlines the entire production process. Visit www.efi.com or follow EFI online on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

About Xeikon 
Xeikon, a division of Flint Group, is a long-standing leader and innovator in digital printing technology. Grounded in the principles of quality, flexibility and sustainability, Xeikon designs, develops and delivers web-fed digital color presses for label and packaging applications, document printing, and commercial printing. These presses utilize different imaging technologies, open workflow software and application-specific consumables. 

As an OEM supplier, Xeikon also designs and produces plate makers for newspaper printing applications. In addition, Xeikon manufactures basysPrint computer-to-conventional plate (CtCP) solutions for the commercial offset printing market. For the flexographic market, Xeikon offers digital platemaking systems under the ThermoFlexX brand name. ThermoFlexX systems provide high-resolution plate exposure combined with unique plate handling, flexibility and unmatched productivity.

In 2015, Xeikon joined Flint Group to create a new “Digital Printing Solutions” division for the leading global print consumables and solution provider to the packaging and print media industries. Flint Group develops and manufactures an extensive portfolio of printing consumables. These include a vast range of conventional and energy-curable inks and coatings, pressroom chemicals, printing plates and equipment, printing blankets and sleeves, and pigments and additives for use in inks and other colorant applications. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Flint Group employs some 7900 people. On a worldwide basis, the company is the number one or number two supplier in every major market segment it serves. Visit www.xeikon.com, or follow Xeikon Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

For media inquiries, contact:

EFI
Holly O’Rourke, Advertising/Corporate Communications
T: +1 603 677-8992 – E: Holly.ORourke@efi.com 

Xeikon:
Danny Mertens, Corporate Communications Manager
T: +32 494 50 00 57 – E: Danny.Mertens@xeikon.com

PR agency Xeikon: Duomedia, Nancy Vermeulen
M: +32 474 21 89 21 – E: nancy.v@duomedia.com 

The Electronics For Imaging, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=15847.

Safe Harbor for Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that could be deemed forward-looking statements include, but are not necessarily limited to, statements regarding the impact of the partnership on EFI's results, future product offerings to Jetrion customers, integration of Jetrion, future customer achievements, continuation of support to the existing Jetrion client base, and any statements or assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.

Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially, or cause a material adverse impact on our results. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not necessarily limited to, unforeseen expenses; the difficulty of aligning expense levels with revenue; management's ability to forecast revenues, expenses and earnings; any world-wide financial and economic difficulties and downturns; adverse tax-related matters such as tax audits, changes in our effective tax rate or new tax legislative proposals; the unpredictability of development schedules and commercialization of products by the leading printer manufacturers and declines or delays in demand for our related products; changes in the mix of products sold; the uncertainty of market acceptance of new product introductions; intense competition in each of our businesses, including competition from products developed by EFI’s customers; challenge of managing asset levels, including inventory and variations in inventory levels; the uncertainty of continued success in technological advances; the challenges of obtaining timely, efficient and quality product manufacturing and supply of components; litigation involving intellectual property rights or other related matters; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses; the uncertainty regarding the amount and timing of future share repurchases by EFI and the origin of funds used for such repurchases; the market prices of EFI’s common stock prior to, during and after the share repurchases; any disruptions in our operations, the difficulty to retain employees; the compliance with requirements regarding the "conflict minerals," if they are found to be used in our products, and any other risk factors that may be included from time to time in the Company's SEC reports.

NOTE TO EDITORS:  The EFI logo and Jetrion are registered trademarks of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. EFI is a trademark of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. All other terms and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners, and are hereby acknowledged.

Nothing herein should be construed as a warranty in addition to the express warranty statements provided with EFI products and services.