Graphix Supply World has launched the EFI VUTEk FabriVU 340 at the FESPA Africa and Sign Africa Expo, taking place from 8-9 September at Gallagher Convention Centre. The company has already confirmed its first sale on the opening day of the event to Fusion Digital.
This exhibit of the machine follows a recent announcement that EFI wide- and superwide-format printers will now be available from Graphix Supply World.
The high growth in demand for Electronics For Imaging (Nasdaq:EFII) inkjet printers across the African continent has led to a new distribution agreement between EFI™ and Graphix Supply World (GSW), a long-established reseller with offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa. This new agreement covers EFI’s Wide Format, VUTEk® and Quantum portfolio, and incorporates a broad range of countries backed fully by Graphix Technical Support (GTS), a specialist technical company in the GSW Group.
The timing for this new authorised distribution agreement is crucial as display producers, sign-makers and print service providers across Africa are making the transition from older inkjet technologies to equipment which utilises the latest ink formulations, including UV LED and textile options. GSW will be demonstrating the EFI VUTEk GS3250lx Pro and VUTEk FabriVU® 340 printers at the forthcoming FESPA Africa, and will also promote EFI’s Wide Format and Quantum printers at the event.
'EFI’s broad product portfolio gives us the perfect range of wide format printers that covers every budgetary and production requirement. This enables us to provide new and existing customers with the most comprehensive choice from a single manufacturer,' stated GSW Managing Director Robert Franco. 'Our customer base is becoming increasingly diverse in its needs. Our clients are now demanding the best inkjet technologies across, plus they expect from us robust, high-quality and reliable machines, which we will definitely be able to offer through this new partnership.'
GSW will handle EFI inkjet product lines sales in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Kenya and Mauritius as well as South Africa. 'All off these areas are ripe for the migration to the latest printing technologies as the use of wide-format digital printers of all types is escalating rapidly through these countries,' said Paul Cripps, EFI’s regional vice president of sales. 'GSW is the ideal partner for us as the company provides EFI with decades of solid experience, a growing customer base, and full technical back-up and support that focuses on industrial digital equipment and print to cut workflow solutions.'
GSW supports many of Africa’s leading printing companies, providing a thorough service offering and one-stop source of inkjet supplies, along with training and financing. GSW’s offerings are complemented by GTS, a company that includes end-to-end workflow solutions based on EFI and Esko products, plus other specialised technologies.
Wide-format print is a fast-developing area in Africa’s print industry, in traditional signage and graphics, and in emerging market applications such as fabric soft signage. The EFI/GSW distribution agreement will help to ensure that EFI can successfully and proactively reach an important, growing base of new and existing customers.
'Both GSW and GTS fully understand the unique challenges with Africa’s infrastructure, such as the long distances and high transport costs point to point,' stated GSW’s Franco. 'We are positioned to provide the full range of services essential to print companies of all sizes, and the addition of EFI’s products play a vital role in providing our customers with the best investment opportunities to secure their futures.'
Entrance to the event is free. For more information about the event and to pre-register online, please visit www.FESPAAfrica.com or www.SignAfricaExpo.com.
