[June 30, 2004] Xerox and EFI to Develop Workflow Solutions Integrating Information Systems with Fiery-driven Digital Presses LAS VEGAS --(Business Wire)-- June 30, 2004 -- JDF-based solutions to help print providers improve business operations as short-run digital jobs increase Expanding on their long-term partnership, Xerox Corporation (NYSE:XRX) and EFI (Nasdaq:EFII) will collaborate to develop workflow solutions that will help print providers improve business operations by streamlining the flow of data between management information systems (MIS) and EFI Fiery(R)-driven digital presses. The companies announced their agreement today at EFI's Connect 2004 User Conference, a four-day networking and product-training event with more than 800 registered printing professionals, partners and analysts. Print providers depend on management information systems to manage customer estimates, prioritize jobs, generate invoices and handle the business side of their operations. Yet, as printers ramp up to handle more short-run digital print jobs, more job-related information is being generated from their digital presses. With information such as job specifications flowing from MIS, and job status reports flowing back from digital presses, it's crucial that both systems be fully integrated to keep operations running smoothly, to control costs and to ensure overall productivity. "Xerox and EFI will provide integrated workflow solutions that enable customers to maximize returns on their business investments and get the most from both offset and digital equipment," said Mike Kucharski, vice president, Xerox Workflow Business Team. "We will design workflow solutions based on open standards that link Xerox digital presses to a printer's MIS operations, leveraging the information that is vital to their success." Both Xerox and EFI are proponents of JDF, the open electronic job-ticketing format developed by the CIP4 industry standards organization. The workflow solutions they develop will be based on JDF and will integrate Xerox's FreeFlow(TM) software and EFI's MIS software such as Hagen OA, providing instant feedback on job status, job completion and final billing. "Print providers are seeking affordable, open, scaleable and interoperable workflow solutions from MIS to prepress to Fiery-driven digital devices that will help them become more competitive and capture new opportunities in on-demand printing and variable-data printing," said Marc Olin, vice president and general manager, EFI Commercial Print Systems. "Working together with Xerox on these expanded workflow initiatives, we will help printers increase their productivity, reduce their production times and printing costs, and offer their customers new services and increased communication." About Xerox Xerox Corporation offers an array of innovative document solutions, services and systems -- including workflow solutions, color and black-and-white printers, digital presses, multifunction devices and digital copiers -- designed for offices and production-printing environments. It also offers associated supplies, software and support. For more information, visit www.xerox.com. About EFI EFI is the world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for commercial and enterprise printing. EFI's award-winning technologies offer document management tools from creation to print, including high fidelity color and black-and-white Fiery(R) print servers that can output up to 2,000 ppm; powerful production workflow and print management information software solutions for increased performance and cost efficiency; and an array of business-critical enterprise and mobile printing solutions. EFI maintains 25 offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.efi.com. NOTE TO EDITORS: XEROX(R), The Document Company(R), the digital X(R), and FreeFlow are trademarks of XEROX CORPORATION. EFI(R) and their respective products are trademarks of EFI. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]