Interstate Graphics first customer to install new EFI VUTEk GS Pro-TF thermoforming system at its facility in Machesney Park, Illinois; offering includes UV printer, VUTEk GS-TF inks that print on flat sheets of plastic media

Kendall Sinclair

Kendall Sinclair

FREMONT, California , October 29, 2013 (press release) – EFI™ (Nasdaq: EFII), a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, announced that Machesney Park, Ill.-based Interstate Graphics Inc. (IGI) has become the first customer to install the new EFI VUTEk® GS Pro-TF thermoforming system, a UV printer and ink offering that advances the industry's analog-to-digital transformation by bringing inkjet printing to the thermoformed product decoration market.

EFI showcased the VUTEk GS Pro-TF system at the recent 2013 SGIA Expo in Orlando, where it was named SGIA's 2013 Product of the Year in the digital inks category.

IGI's installation, which was completed earlier this month, includes a 2-meter VUTEk GS2000 Pro-TF printer operating VUTEk GS-TF inks. The award-winning system prints on flat sheets of plastic media that are meant to be thermoformed into 3D shapes, eliminating potentially costly and time-consuming screen printing, hand painting and vinyl lettering processes.

IGI is using the system to offer high-quality, shorter-run thermoformed work, including test runs and prototypes that are not cost-effective to produce using analog printing methods.

"Today, we do screen printing for customers who want thermoformed work," said IGI President John Norwood. "Our new EFI VUTEk GS Pro-TF system is an option for them to go digital."

Thermoforming: a new frontier for digital printing
The VUTEk GS Pro-TF system can print on a wide range of polystyrene, high-impact polystyrene, PETG, polycarbonate, PVC and acrylic substrates. The versatility in compatible media gives companies like IGI the ability to digitally print many products that benefit from 3-D thermoforming enhancements, such as outdoor, point-of-purchase and beverage signage, as well as vending and gaming panels.

Printing companies can also use the VUTEk GS Pro-TF system to develop new, custom-decoration applications for the automotive, marine, aircraft and other industries.

IGI's new ink and printer technologies transcend previous limitations with inkjet, where inks could not withstand the heat and pressure of the forming process. VUTEk GS-TF Ink is a patented, eight-color plus white ink set that provides excellent adhesion and outstanding retention of hue and opacity on both first- and second-surface deep-draw thermoformed applications, withstanding post-process heat forming, cutting and routing without chipping, cracking or flaking.

The system's new thermoforming printer provides the proven benefits of the VUTEk GS Pro platform, with imaging resolutions up to 1,000 dpi and EFI's variable-drop grayscale technology.

"Experienced and innovative firms like IGI know the challenges and opportunities that exist in high-quality thermoformed products," said Frank Mallozzi, senior vice president, worldwide sales and marketing, EFI. "The new EFI VUTEk GS Pro-TF system provides this knowledgeable customer with an immediate competitive advantage while opening the door to new digital printing jobs that did not exist before."

The VUTEk GS Pro-TF is one of two new VUTEk products IGI has installed in 2013. Earlier this year, the company became one of the first to install an EFI VUTEk HS100 Pro, a high-end, high-speed 3.2-meter inkjet press offering the productivity of screen printing and image quality approaching offset. IGI manages its VUTEk printers using EFI Fiery® proServer digital front ends.

For more information about EFI VUTEk products, visit www.efi.com or contact 800-875-7117.

About EFI
EFI™ (www.efi.com) is a worldwide provider of products, technology and services leading the transformation of analog to digital imaging. Based in Silicon Valley, with offices around the globe, the company's powerful integrated product portfolio includes digital front-end servers; superwide, wide-format, label and ceramic inkjet presses and inks; production workflow, web to print, and business automation software; and office, enterprise and mobile cloud solutions. These products allow users to produce, communicate and share information in an easy and effective way, and enable businesses to increase their profits, productivity, and efficiency.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: The EFI logo and VUTEk are registered trademarks of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. EFI is a trademark of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. All other terms and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners, and are hereby acknowledged.

Nothing herein should be construed as a warranty in addition to the express warranty statements provided with EFI products and services.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, that are statements other than statements of historical fact including words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "consider", "plan" and similar, any statements related to strategies or objectives of management for future operations, products, development, performance, any statements of assumptions or underlying any of the foregoing and any statements in the future tense. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual or future results to differ materially. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with EFI's businesses, please refer to the risk factors section in the Company's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. EFI undertakes no obligation to update information contained herein, including forward-looking statements.

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