by John Zarwan December 13, 2005 -- At Print 05, inkjet technology could be found literally everywhere. In addition to proofing systems, there were high speed inkjet presses and combination presses with inkjet heads on both conventional offset and flexo presses. And, of course, the wide format pavilion showcased a variety of inkjet printers. Inkjet technology has achieved a high level of acceptance for proofing; most major suppliers now offer inkjet proofing solutions. It has also become a standard method of producing wide-format. “Everyone is seeking the next business mountain to climb, and we have chosen inkjet. We believe this technology has legs. We believe it is a high growth segment, and our technology will allow us to cover the whole waterfront.” --Tom Saggiomo, Agfa Graphic Systems N.A. As inkjet technology matures, interest is clearly picking up, as are the resources required to develop and offer products. A spate of recent acquisitions has injected a great deal of investment into the inkjet market: EFI bought Vutek; Fuji, Sericol; Screen, Inca; HP, Scitex Vision; Kodak, Encad and Versamark. Agfa, a traditional prepress powerhouse, appears to be making inkjet central to its strategy going forward and has done so through a mixture of acquisition, partnership, and internal development. In a recent interview with WhatTheyThink.com, Tom Saggiomo, president of Agfa Graphic Systems in North America, noted, “Inkjet is important. Everyone is seeking the next business mountain to climb, and we have chosen inkjet. We believe this technology has legs. We believe it is a high growth segment, and our technology will allow us to cover the whole waterfront.” And Agfa does indeed cover the waterfront, with products ranging from proofing (:Sherpa and :Grand Sherpa) and wide format output (:Grand Sherpa Universal AM and :Anapurna) to industrial and packaging printing (:Dotrix and M-Press). Agfa Anapurna wide-format industrial UV inkjet printer Heads, Inks, and Systems The strategy is based upon three core elements: inkjet head technology; inks; and systems. Agfa has invested in Xaar, a British firm that is one of the major suppliers of inkjet head technology and inks. (Xaar licensees include Konica-Minolta, Sharp, and Toshiba for printheads and Toyo Ink for ink, among others.) One of the first results of their five-year collaboration is the Agfa Universal Print Head. The :Anapurna will be the first machine with the new Agfa/Xaar head, the M-Press the second. Because of the head’s ability to use UV, aqueous, oil-based, and mild solvent inks, Agfa expects it to be the platform for future inkjet products. Of course, for manufacturers and suppliers, inkjet essentially is a consumables business. As Agfa has significant expertise in chemistry and manufacturing, the second leg of the strategy is supplying ink. Agfa manufactures UV inks for the :Dotrix and :Anapurna; mild solvent inks for the Universal line; and aqueous inks for the :Sherpas. Of particular interest in Agfa’s strategy, and an indication of the investment required, is its choice of partnerships, investments, and co-development rather than outright acquisitions. Although :Dotrix was acquired from Barco, Agfa has joint development efforts with Xaar (heads), Mutoh (systems and manufacturing the :Sherpa line), and Thieme (M-press hybrid digital/screen press). Agfa Dotrix digital inkjet press What Commercial Print Needs Naturally, Agfa expects inkjet to expand its business. First, of course, is helping core commercial printing customers grow. Commercial printers need to do something to get new business; many are offering multiple services and broadening their markets to include complete direct mail solutions, wide format graphics, and labels. Agfa is also making a major push into new markets for industrial printing applications. While this starts with packaging and labels, it also includes many traditional applications for screen print technologies, including decorative printing and out-of-home advertising, banners, and point of purchase. In these markets, Agfa will meet different competitors and sell to new customers with applications that are different from those of the traditional commercial marketplace. Agfa appears to be putting together a collection of inkjet-based products that serve multiple markets. To differentiate itself, the company principally will focus on heads and ink-on-substrate. Agfa is playing toward strong points of proofing and packaging, where it believe these products can be perceived as bringing a unique value.