FFEI shifts focus

Inkjet systems specialist FFEI has announced a change in strategic direction, from OEM to a digital inkjet technology integrator – designing, developing and manufacturing finished inkjet systems ready for partners to take to market.

FFEI is descended from the famed Crosfield scanner and digital pre-press group. Crosfield was subsequently acquired by FujiFilm and FFEI came from a management buyout from the Japanese group. Many of FFEI’s current employees – including managing director Andy Cook – started their careers at Crosfield.

FFEI has been heavily engaged in the labels market since manufacturing the UV inkjet units for the Nilpeter Caslon digital hybrid flexo press. FFEI went on to design and launch the inkjet unit for the Graphium hybrid press, which it integrated into the Edale FL3 transport system.

‘We are moving from manufacturing and selling product direct to market over to developing and producing product for OEM clients,’ explains Andy Cook.

The first tangible result of the new strategy was the Xaar Print Bar launched at Labelexpo Europe, which utilizes proven Graphium inkjet technology. It was subsequently demonstrated as the first white unit on a Codimag Viva 340 offset press and on a GM rewinder at Labelexpo Americas.

The Print Bar project was headed up at Xaar by Doug Edwards, previously of Kodak, who quickly grasped the possibilities of the concept for the labels and packaging industry. ‘This is our model,’ says Andy Cook.

‘We pool our expertise with different partners, each of whom will have a different go-to-market strategy. It is a nice low risk option for clients who can bring innovative products to market quicker by leveraging FFEI’s integration knowledge.’

Stability

Not surprisingly, Cook is bullish about the future of inkjet. ‘The stability of inkjet has now been demonstrated, and we are already seeing increases in both resolution and speed with technologies from the likes of Xaar and Dimatix (Fujifilm). So now it’s a question of adoption and seeing what interesting applications become possible, particularly where it is used in conjunction with conventional technology. Our real strength is integrating the digital and analogue sides of the print and converting process.’

As well as product development with OEM partners, FFEI is working directly with label printers. In the case of Tailored Label Products (TLP) in the US, for example, the Graphium hybrid press was fine tuned to enable full-color customization of corporate event wristbands, produced including logos, in any run length and with a rapid turnaround, with all lamination, cut and slitting operations performed in a single pass.

‘We supported the front end development work which allowed the client to manage over 300,000 different color records – the key challenge was to reduce RIP time to a couple of hours,’ says Cook.

Another success story FMCG label specialist The ProPrint Group, the first Graphium customer in the UK. 

Says Cook, ‘Edale suggested the hybrid approach to The ProPrint Group. They went on to install a Graphium press alongside a variety of finishing equipment. This gives their customers complete flexibility on any production run length and offers a huge array of packaging options. From a short run of promotional chocolate boxes for corporate customers to filmic shrink sleeves and much more.

‘This fits our business model: looking to get clients to do things outside normal boundaries, and support that with software and hardware development. That’s how we work with Edale. Once the Edale representative understands the customer’s requirements, we work out the technical side together and Edale goes back to the client.’

This approach requires quite a different business mindset. ‘Tell us what the application is and we will have a go at making it work technically, and there lies our value,’ explains Cook.

‘This is all high value added business where it’s much less about price, more about value and functionality. We are increasingly having conversations directly with both brands and the bigger label converters who are also looking to move away from the commodity production route.’