EFI's sales rise in first half

Electronics For Imaging has reported improved sales for the first half of 2003 due to higher demand for its embedded controllers for colour digital printers.

The firm hopes to complete its acquisition of Printcafe by mid-September and is planning for a 1.25m-1.6m ($2m-$2.5m) sales contribution from the software firm in the third quarter of the year, rising to 5.6m-5.9m in the fourth quarter.

EFIs second-quarter revenues grew 5.7% to 55.4m, while first-half sales were up 4.5% to 109m.

Net income more than tripled to 5.2m in the second quarter, and tripled to 8.4m in the six-month period ending 30 June.

EFIs sales fell in Japan but grew in North America, Europe and its Rest of the World division.