Metrix has been an EFI business partner since 2009 and its imposition software is integrated with EFI's MIS portfolio, including Monarch, Pace and Radius, as well as a host of other third-party MIS developers' tools.

Marc Olin, EFI interim CFO and general manager of the company's Productivity Software business, said: "Metrix is a small company but it is a product that we had previously done a little bit of integration work on but haven’t really been able to fully take advantage of the opportunity to build integration with our different MIS products.

"So as part of EFI, it really allows us to drive much more automation for our clients, we can tie the two products or all of the products together much more closely and we can leverage our sales force around the world to really drive that product into our very large existing user base of our MIS products."

He added: "From an acquisition pipeline, we’re really looking at those types of acquisitions as well as the acquisitions in the productivity software space that allows to expand our geographic footprint."

Metrix chief executive and founder Rohan Holt, who has joined EFI as director of EFI Metrix products, added: "EFI is the leader in print production workflow and I know our worldwide customer base will benefit enormously from the new level of integration with EFI's products."

Metrix lists its industry partners as: All Systems Integration, Compri, CRC, CSS Group, Dataline, EFI, Epicor, EPMS, Esko, FFEI, Fujifilm, Heidelberg, Hybrid, MBO, Muller Martini, Optimus, Pragmeta, Quarterhouse, Quote & Print, Rampage, Rogler, Screen, Tharstern, TNR Software and Virtual Systems.

However, Infotrends associate director Kaspar Roos told PrintWeek: "I don’t think it’s in EFI’s interest to restrict Metrix in that it can only be sold to EFI customers [and] for third parties that resell Metrix I don’t think they really care that Metrix is now owned by EFI.

"What could happen over time is that Metrix evolves in a direction that provides better integration with EFI MIS systems than with those from other vendors. For instance, if the JDF capabilities of Metrix are changed and some of the integration benefits (e.g. around scheduling) are lost for non-EFI systems, that would change things, but I really can’t tell you if that is going to happen or not."

EFI said the acquisition is not expected to be material to its Q4 or full-year 2013 results.

The deal is EFI's third this year, following its purchase of GamSys and PrintLeader. In 2012 EFI made a string of acquisitions, including Technique, Online Print Solutions, Metrics and Cretaprint.