Is EFI preparing to bridge the all-important gap from printer delivery to logistics? It sure looks like it! When integrated properly into the MIS/ERP of a print operation Fiery touches most of the critical points. As illustrated in the EFI connect press conference last week in Las Vegas, Fiery DFE touches every phase of production. 

Well, almost every phase. 

Certainly as a front end tool managing a layered PDF that carries the data required to get the product printed it seems logical to address the converting stage comprehensively. There were nods and winks in the press conference about how robust Fiery Central is. So where is the reach into post press? 

 Some of the incumbent litho players in the packaging sector are well into the the relationships required to be a complete solution to a packaging buyer. Koenig&Bauer and Komori-MBO both offer impressive end-to-end solutions, either through alliances or outright ownership.  If the digital printing manufacturers hope to be truly competitive in the packaging space and meaningfully grab market share, they have to think bigger, and be bigger. 

 Back to the winks and nods at EFI Connect. Gaby Matsliach, Ken Hanulec and Toby Weiss provided the 10,000 foot view of the familiar EFI offering. Output devices managed by a Fiery DFE, or Fiery Central as it was labeled, have the toe-in-the-door for an end-to-end workflow. EFI IQ provides remote monitoring and analytics/business intelligence capabilities. These capabilities are being extended to the EFI Nozomi C18000 Plus corrugated packaging device. The reach into warehousing, robotics and logistics is still a gap in then EFI offering.

Note in the graphic the node for Warehouse Logistics (banner image). In other parts of the presentation under the Industry 4.0 banner robotics are displayed, but they were not discussed in any depth and without any hint of how Fiery or other products might stretch the value offering beyond the printing stage. EFI needs to step away from being coy about the future and be more assertive about where they see digital technology going and their role in it. In-line converting is critical to an efficient, smart workflow. Then, automation schemes can really take hold. 

Assuming the basic capabilities are as described for Fiery Central, EFI is halfway there. It is that last half that was alluded to; the last mile to the fulfillment, palletizing, warehousing and finally getting on the truck, that is missing in this story. If there is a plan to effectively compete with the incumbents in the packaging world and grab market share, then the rest of story must be told. INKISH will be listening and monitoring this issue. Not just for EFI, but for every manufacturer attempting a presence in digital packaging. 

 Finally, this is one issue that should have been brought up in the press conference. It was disappointing that so few questions were asked when the experts were presenting. There were only six questions. Good ones, but SIX?  The company with a pervasive presence in the print industry splitting into two stand-alone entities, a bold statement (if incomplete) about moving decisively into the packaging, fabric, a building materials space, and just SIX questions?  The media covering the print industry made an unimpressive showing at this press conference. 

Just saying.