November 29, 2007 - FFEI has enjoyed an impressive year. After a management buyout in November 2006, the company proceeded in 2007 to launch an array of groundbreaking products, secured several multi-million pound sales agreements and is now approaching 2008 with expectations of even greater success.
The eagerly anticipated Fujifilm Workflow XMF was launched in March 2007. XMF is owned and sold by Fujifilm, while FFEI has developed most of XMF's innovative technology. XMF is built with a native JDF architecture and was the first commercially available product to incorporate Adobe's PDF Print Engine (APPE). The new software ensures optimum compatibility and communication with all print production devices, which automates and streamlines time-consuming tasks, delivering significant savings in job production times and resources.
In August, FFEI secured a substantial sales agreement with a leading provider of graphic arts equipment in China. As part of this agreement, FFEI will produce violet 8 page CTP engines exclusively for this partner over the next three years. Production will take place at FFEI's new 540 square metre factory in Dong Guang, China, effectively doubling FFEI's worldwide manufacturing capacity.
September was a busy month as RealVue3D, the world's first 3D visual simulation software for print media, was unveiled at Graph Expo 2007, Chicago, USA. Created to streamline the communication and approval process between creatives, marketers, printers and their clients, RealVue3D offers an easy way to design, present and approve jobs via a unique 3D document viewer.
"RealVue3D is a modular plug-in for Adobe Acrobat Professional and produces a platform independent java file that allows any computer user to display the print document, turn the pages, rotate the viewing angle and zoom into detail," explains Andy Cook, Managing Director. "In addition, the system enables viewing conditions and print characteristics to be changed, such as stock weight, finish and texture. Accurate simulation of these print features allows their impact to be evaluated before any expenditure on print production, an invaluable development for all concerned." Learn more about RealVue3D at http://www.realvue3d.com
Resulting from a development and distribution agreement between Nilpeter in Denmark and FFEI, the companies debuted an inkjet print system called 'Caslon' in September, at LabelExpo in Brussels. The modular digital print solution for labels and narrow web packaging uses 4-colour process UV inkjet technology and the latest 1001 printheads from Xaar. The FFEI-designed inkjet solution promises to set new standards for digital printing in terms of productivity and flexibility in combination print processes. The first commercially available Caslon product will be in 330mm (13") and 420mm (16") web widths, with 508mm (20") and 559mm (22") coming soon.
The October IfraExpo was the setting for the launch of the FFEI Alinte News CTP product range, available for sale worldwide via FFEI sales channels in February 2008. The new CTP portfolio was developed in partnership with Dotline, a newspaper CTP designer and manufacturer, and is of extremely high quality, dependability and robust build. Configurations include manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic devices that use a unique, slightly curved imaging Violet F-theta imaging bed. At the top of the range, an impressive 225 Berliner-sized plates can be produced per hour.
Throughout the year, FFEI has also seen significant advancement in illumination, digitisation, processing, data handling and colour display across life science solutions, vastly improving the quality of medical imagery. FFEI is now working with a number of high profile organisations in the biotechnology, medical and pharmaceutical markets on product development and integration.
Andy Cook summarises, "2007 has been a great year for FFEI. We've really moved forward with new products and innovative technology development. That's what FFEI is all about, the creation of solutions that make a difference to people's daily lives, whether it's enhancing expression in print, making the news more immediate or helping to diagnose potential health problems.
"We're now looking forward to the year ahead. Plans are underway for the unveiling of more, cutting-edge products and further innovative technological advancements are just around the corner.
For FFEI, 2008 is set to be an exciting and prosperous year."