Hemel Hempstead-based FFEI, which was bought from parent company Fujifilm in an MBO last November, is
set to launch a range of devices capable of outputting up to 225 Berliner-size plates per hour.

The new range includes manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic devices, capable of outputting 120, 175 or 225 plates per hour at a resolution of 1,200dpi.

FFEI business manager, commercial and newspaper, Robert Lugg said: “If we went down in resolution – as a lot of our competitors do – then we’d be on the other side of 250 [plates per hour] in terms of productivity.”

Lugg added that, in addition to local and regional newspaper publishers, FFEI would be gunning for the
big contracts, such as the News International deal currently held by rival manufacturer Agfa.

He said: “We are absolutely targeting the high-end users. We believe we have a very, very good product that a lot of people are going to be interested in.”

Ifra Expo, which runs from 8 to 11 October in Vienna, will be FFEI’s first outing as an independent company, following its split from Fujifilm.

FFEI managing director Andy Cook said: “This is the first time that FFEI will have an individual brand presence at IFRA Expo. Our involvement with this important show reflects the company’s broader direction in digital imaging and our focus on FFEI innovations.”

In addition to its Ifra product launches, FFEI is set to announce a strategic partnership with Danish flexo press manufacturer Nilpeter and Cambridge-based inkjet printhead manufacturer Xaar at this week’s Label Expo.