DUSSELDORF, Germany--May 6, 2004-- EFI, the world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for commercial and enterprise printing, today announced it is showcasing the integration between its award-winning Fiery and its market leading EFI PrintSmith(TM) print management information system (MIS) at drupa (Hall 4, Stands B34/B40). This connected workflow will deliver more value and productivity to customers by automating their workflow. The Fiery-PrintSmith workflow integration is a two-way exchange between the Fiery print controller (System 5 and higher) and the PrintSmith management system. This connection is accomplished through the EFI Job Manager, a network portal that utilizes bi-directional communication to collect and distribute information in real-time. Specifically the Job Manager is designed to move job details, including job numbers, descriptions, part information, production counts and colors between the Fiery controller and the PrintSmith system in real time. "The Fiery - PrintSmith connection will help our customers make their workflow processes and reporting more productive and cost-effective," said JD Bagnell, EFI Product Manager, Integration. "For example, PrintSmith clients with PrintSmith Site can dispatch job information from the Internet desktop to the PrintSmith management system, and now, that information is shared seamlessly with the production Fiery. And, likewise, job information is sent back to the management system from the Fiery as the job progresses. This is Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) at work to improve the printer's productivity." "Fiery and PrintSmith have been critical components of my business for years, and this real-time integration will not only improve my shop's day-to-day efficiency but also put us another step closer to CIM," said Randy Herron, owner of Herron Printing and Graphics in Gaithersburg, MD. With more than 6,000 customers, EFI PrintSmith is the most widely used and complete integrated print management information system that helps small to medium size printers take control of their estimating, production, invoicing and accounts receivable needs. EFI PrintSmith Site(TM) is a client-facing Internet desktop integrated with the PrintSmith system. The Fierys on display at drupa include the S300 server, designed to drive mid-range and high volume print engines at full speed; the Fiery X3e for printing large quantities of black-and-white documents in corporate environments; the X5 black & white server for high-volume production environments; the Fiery Q4500, which is available for color production class engines and digital presses; and the new QX9000, also known as the Fiery CS600 server, now available to drive the Kodak Versamark VX5000 series of printing systems at up to 2,000 fully variable pages per minute. EFI's industry renowned Fiery servers deliver exceptional performance and color quality with the comprehensive, award-winning Fiery System software. Key features include: The Bertl Award winning Command WorkStation(TM) for efficient production management and sophisticated job manipulation; ColorWise for flexible controls to achieve the highest quality color output; and Fiery Scan for feature-rich scans that can be emailed, faxed, FTP'd or stored on a local hard drive. For more information on Fiery, PrintSmith and other EFI products, visit EFI at drupa, May 6-19th in Hall 4, booths B34 & B40 or go to www.efi.com.