StingRay is a multi-protocol file transfer tool designed specifically for the pre-media industry and is widely used by printers, publishers and media companies throughout Germany.

It was originally developed by the German software house Hermstedt, but the product, trademark and manufacturing rights were later acquired by Pro2col following Hermstedt's administration in 2007.

At the time, Pro2col was a UK distributor for Hermstedt and StingRay was its "number one product by a country mile" with several hundred UK installs completed since the company's founding in 2004.

James Lewis, managing director of the Bournemouth-based software developer, said he was confident Pro2col's customers would be weel-served by Gaficon, especially given chief executive Uli Finkler's intimate knowledge of the Hermstedt software.

"I have known Uli Finkler since he originally developed StingRay at Hermstedt and with his knowledge of [the product] and of other pre-media technologies, I am confident that our customers are in good hands," said Lewis.

Finkler added: "To satisfy the need for an integrative and workflow-supporting file transfer solution for customers, and the unique opportunity to do this with the combination of my former product StingRay and a partner like Pro2Col, pleased me extraordinarily. I have known James Lewis for years and with their successful work in Great Britain and this agreement, we can start a successful cooperation."

Gaficon expects to be able to help existing users to better integrate StingRay with their existing creative, publishing and print workflows, enabling them to benefit from greater efficiencies and maximise return on investment.