T/R Systems MicroPress distributed-printing software allows jobs to be split across mutiple digital printers. The takeover is due in the fourth quarter of this year.

The deal would see T/Rs shareholders pocket over 13m ($21m) and the firms products dovetail neatly with EFIs, said EFI chief executive Guy Gecht.

T/R Systems products are a very good fit with EFIs portfolio, said Gecht. By expanding workflow offerings we will give our world-wide customers a greater range of productivity tools.

Mike Kohlsdorf, T/R Systems chief executive, said: Joining forces will allow us to offer a powerful array of open workflow solutions backed by EFIs network of customer support and service.

The firms acquisition of Printcafe has been delayed. It was due to be complete before the end of this month, which would have put it in the firms third quarter, now it wont be completed until early in the fourth quarter.

Due to this delay and a better product mix EFI has doubled its earnings guidance for the third quarter compared to its prediction in July.

Story by Jez Abbott