EFI Connect 2018 Delivers

From the left, are EFI CEO Guy Gecht; Eric Bacourt, CEO of Hinojosa Packaging Solutions; and Mal McGowan, CEO of McGowans Print, during the fireside chat, at the EFI Connect conference. Hinojosa in Spain was the first worldwide EFI Nozomi corrugated inkjet printing press install. McGowans in Ireland was second.

We are deep in the midst of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” proclaimed EFI CEO Guy Gecht during his opening keynote address before a crowd of more than 1,000 industry representatives to kick off the 19th annual EFI Connect users’ group conference, which was held from Jan. 23-26 at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Taking a cue from his 2017 keynote, Gecht talked about how artificial intelligence is being driven by big data, the tremendous computation power in the cloud and the fast processing power of devices. He also noted how Netflix subscribers surpassed the number of cable pay-TV subscribers last year, and how it took the telephone 75 years to reach 50 million users whereas it took the Angry Birds game 35 days.

“The new print is all about putting spectacular images on essentially any material,” he said. “With digital inkjet technology and automation, the new print brings immense opportunity in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” Due to the demand for personalization and customization, print will extend to apparel, rigid surfaces, home furnishings, packaging and much more.

His keynote set the stage for EFI Connect 2018 - one of the printing industry’s largest (nearly 1,500 registrants), longest-running and most influential (attendees from 23 countries) users’ group conferences - which is designed to help attendees profit from the analog to digital transition.

Connect also featured the debut of several EFI products:

• EFI VUTEk HS125 Pro and HS100 Pro Fast-4 hybrid flatbed/roll inkjet press models that offer a range of super-fast, four-color grayscale modes, with speeds up to 225 boards/hr. This enables more cost-effective grayscale production of distance-viewed signage and graphics.