The agreement, which affects the US commercial print market, will comprise EFI's Vutek GS2000, GS3200, and GS5000r machines and technical support in addition to inks, parts, consumables, accessories and upgrades.

James Martin, senior vice president of marketing at Heidelberg USA, said: "Wide and superwide format printing are high-growth opportunities and Heidelberg has the right workflow, colour management, service and Saphira consumables expertise needed to integrate these technologies into a print production environment."

According to Frank Mallozzi, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at EFI, the deal would enable the digital manufacturer to reach Heidelberg customers through "a broader network".

Heidelberg USA will showcase a GS3200 printer in its North American Print & Packaging Technology Center (NAPPTC) where it will be hooked up to its Prinect workflow and will be colour managed by Heidelberg's Prinect Colour Toolbox.

The German manuufacturer said the partnership would allow customers to benfit from a single workflow that drives a digital and offset press and provides a colour matched outpur from both.

However, Heidelberg UK was unavailable for comment on whether a similar agreement will come into effect in the UK or European market at the time of writing.