Xerox has sold its FreeFlow Print Server (FFPS) digital front end software to EFI as Fuji Xerox Australia reabsorbs its enterprise IT and software division after only a year in operation.
Xerox and EFI announced their new strategic partnership yesterday, which will include the sale of FFPS to EFI, effectively removing Xerox from digital front end (DFE) development. Under the terms of the deal, EFI will continue to produce and support FFPS to avoid service disruption for current users.
“This next step in our strategic alliance will give customers the industry’s highest performing DFE with unparalleled imaging and color management. EFI integration among the DFE, workflow software, and management information systems products deliver the higher levels of automation and productivity that are key to print businesses taking full advantage of the opportunities with digital printing,” said Guy Gecht, CEO of EFI.
Xerox will now work with EFI on EFI's Fiery digital front end software, which currently dominates the DFE market, and will provide expertise and functionality from FFPS.
“This acquisition by EFI is beneficial to both parties. EFI gains important intellectual property as well as the flexibility to integrate it tightly with its own Fiery assets. For Xerox the move transfers the development and support of FFPS to an acknowledged market leader. The move strengthens an already strong relationship and opens up new possibilities for future offerings,” said Jim Hamilton, group director, InfoTrends, a division of Keypoint Intelligence.
The announcement comes as Fuji Xerox Australia integrates its enterprise IT and software division, reabsorbing it into the main company. Brian Pereira, who was appointed general manager of the department at its launch in 2015, left the company in November of last year, along with most of the division's approximately 35 staff.