Foster City, Calif. - EFI and Heidelberg USA, Inc. today announced a new agreement under which Heidelberg will distribute the VUTEk GS series of superwide format digital printers to the commercial print market across the U.S.

Under the agreement, Heidelberg USA will distribute EFI's VUTEk GS2000, GS3200, and GS5000r as well as the inks, parts, consumables, accessories and upgrades related to these printers. Heidelberg will also provide customer and technical support for the VUTEk GS series of printers including installation and training.

EFI is a world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for commercial, packaging, in-plant and specialty printers worldwide. Heidelberg is the world's leading solutions provider for the print media industry. The company manufactures sheetfed press systems as well as prepress and postpress components, software and consumables for all printing applications.

"We're excited to enter into this distribution agreement with Heidelberg USA. It allows us to bring Heidelberg customers our award-winning superwide format digital printers," said Frank Mallozzi, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing, EFI. "Commercial printers are looking for ways to distinguish themselves and offer their clients more diversified products and services. Now we can reach those companies through a broader network."

Heidelberg USA will have a GS3200 in its North American Print & Packaging Technology Center (NAPPTC) for demonstrations. The machine will be integrated into a complete Prinect workflow and will be color managed by Heidelberg's Prinect Color Toolbox which has recently been awarded the IDEAlliance G7 System Certification. Customers will benefit from a single workflow that drives a digital device and an offset press with the result being a color matched output from both.

"Wide and superwide format printing are high-growth opportunities and Heidelberg has the right workflow, color management, service and Saphira consumables expertise needed to integrate these technologies into a print production environment," said James Martin, senior vice president, marketing, Heidelberg USA. "EFI is a leader in the superwide space and together with Heidelberg we can bring a best-in-class portfolio to our customers."

VUTEk superwide inkjet solutions

VUTEk digital superwide printers range in width from 2- to 5-meters wide in roll-to-roll and flatbed formats. These versatile printers and inks deliver High-Definition Print (HDP) quality and exceptional production level speeds. They enable greater profitability with localized messaging, direct-to-substrate printing, increased capacity, and reduced labor, waste and make-ready costs. They allow businesses to enter new high-margin markets.