drupa - Düsseldorf, Germany - May 30, 2008 - EFI (NASDAQ: EFII), the world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today announced that its Hagen™ and Prograph® management systems have each received JDF certification from PIA/GATF. EFI Prograph and EFI Hagen OA are among the first management systems to pass the stringent Job Definition Format testing process by PIA/GATF, the official certification body for CIP4 (the International Cooperation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress).
The certification process involves a series of tests - ranging from attribute value tests to full blown JDF job ticket conformance - over several days conducted in the PIA/GATF's state-of-the-art facility. Hagen and Prograph passed all the rigorous standards of JDF product certification and are now certified to create and accept updated job details as the job is running via JMF (Job Messaging Format). These systems have efficient two way communication between capable devices, and the ability to communicate correctly to both prepress and conventional printing workflows.
"PIA/GATF continues to expand our JDF Certification portfolio with the conclusion of this beta and the support of EFI," said Dr. Mark Bohan, vice president, research and technology, PIA/GATF. "By using certified solutions, print providers can be confident in the adoption and usage of JDF throughout their operations. EFI continues to be a strong proponent of JDF and we are pleased to have them participate fully in this process."
"EFI is proud to receive JDF certifications for Hagen and Prograph," said Marc Olin, senior vice president/general manager, EFI Advanced Professional Print Software (APPS). "This accomplishment is welcome news for our worldwide customers who can now seamlessly share information between production and management processes to realize productivity improvements and cost savings. EFI has been committed to JDF and CIP4 for many years and we're very pleased that our efforts have resulted in these certifications. We are anticipating successful certification on our other MIS systems as well."
EFI Prograph delivers a comprehensive workflow planning and management solution for magazine, catalog, book, retail insert and large commercial print operations. The solution offers comprehensive planning capabilities, including versioning, complex imposition, bindery planning and distribution tools, enabling users to make more informed business decisions and streamline their production process.
EFI Hagen is an MIS solution designed to effectively support technology-driven printing operations, from medium-sized commercial printers to multi-plant enterprises. Providing a robust and advanced accounting package with high-end applications for estimating, job management, scheduling, purchasing, inventory and fulfillment, Hagen allows print service providers to collect, share, analyze and respond to information in real-time.
The latest releases of Hagen and Prograph are on display at drupa 2008 through June 11 in EFI's booth (stand C01, Hall 5) as well as in the JDF Experience Parc (Innovation hall, Hall 7). Prograph version 7.0, which began shipping in April, has several product enhancements, most notably a new invoicing module which supports Contract Billing. This allows print service providers to represent long-term contract pricing they have in place with clients, a common practice for publication printers. The system then helps them generate the invoices based on these contracts using the planning data in Prograph.
For more information, please visit EFI at drupa, www.efi.com or contact 1-800-875-7117.
About EFI
EFI (www.efi.com) is the world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation. EFI's award-winning solutions, integrated from creation to print, deliver increased performance, cost savings and productivity. The company's robust product portfolio includes Fiery® digital color print servers; VUTEk® superwide digital inkjet printers, UV and solvent inks; Jetrion® industrial inkjet printing systems; print production workflow and management information software; and corporate printing solutions. EFI maintains 26 offices worldwide.
About PIA/GATF
PIA/GATF is the world's largest graphic arts trade association representing an industry with more than 1.2 million employees. It serves the interests of more than 12,000 member companies. PIA/GATF, along with its affiliates, delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information. Website: www.gain.net
About CIP4
CIP4 brings together vendors, consultants, and end-users in the print communications, graphic arts industry, and associated sectors, covering a variety of equipment, software, peripherals, and processes. Members participate in focused working groups to define the Job Definition Format (JDF), PrintTalk, and other standards relevant to process automation; to study user requirements; to test product interoperability; and to develop a range of JDF software development tools. Information on CIP4, including membership details, is available from the organization's website: www.cip4.org. Or contact: Stefan Daun, Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics, +49 6151 155 575, secretariat@cip4.org. "CIP4" and "JDF" are registered trademarks of the CIP4 Organization.
About JDF
The Job Definition Format (JDF) is the industry specification designed to facilitate process automation and the integration of different applications and systems in and around the graphic arts industry. JDF also enables the integration of business management and job planning applications into the production workflow. JDF is based on the W3C's Extensible Markup Language (XML), ensuring maximum interoperability between different platforms and ready interaction with Internet systems. More information is available at http://www.cip4.org/.
NOTE TO EDITORS: EFI, Fiery, and Prograph are registered trademarks of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and/or certain other foreign jurisdictions. Hagen is a trademark of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
Contact: Katie Maller EFI Public Relations 650.357.3032 katie.maller@efi.com