Electronics For Imagings strong cash flow means now is "a very good time to look at acquisitions and opportunities", according to chief financial officer Joe Cutts.


"We have a business development team thats constantly looking at deals," he added, although theres "nothing immediate".


EFI hopes to increase its presence in production printing, either by acquiring software or hardware businesses.


It will launch 50 new products this year, added Cutts, who said EFIs strategy was based around digital colour printing.


The 100m acquisition of Splash last September, which Cutts described as "if we cant beat them lets have them join us", increased the firms presence in the colour server market.


Cutts said EFI would pursue growth through tactics other than acquisition, including in-house R&D and investment in other companies. Variable data will be "key to advertising in the future," he added.


EFI has also survived the economic slowdown in "pretty good shape".


"Last October we started to talk about a slowdown. We were seeing forecasts from our corporate partners IT spending so we managed our inventory levels."


Two weeks ago the group reported a 61% drop in net income but said the "migration to colour" would allow it to maintain its position (PrintWeek, 20 April).


By Gordon Carson