8 minute read
EFI Renewed: Engage, Asia Pacific, leading
PIA virtually catches up with EFI’s head honcho, Jeff Jacobson at the 2021 EFI Engage online conference and chat new product launches, business focuses in Asia Pacific, and the leadership impact he wants to make. By Sha Jumari.
The 22nd edition of EFI’s signature customer event, Connect, took on a different front - completely virtual and rebranded as Engage. Due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, Connect, much like every other major industry event, was placed on an online platform.
“Connect has been a proud EFI tradition bringing great value to our customers in person in Las Vegas over the past 20 years. We didn’t want to try to simply turn that into an online conference; while we knew that an online-based forum was vital to our customers, we didn’t want to suggest that it was a permanent replacement for Connect,” said Jeff Jacobson, CEO for EFI.
“Try as we might, it wouldn’t be the same. So, we took a look at a new online event as a chance to maximize the value to our customers in very particular current circumstances. We had the opportunity to turn this into a truly global event and make it accessible to our customers regardless of location,” said Jacobson.
“This idea morphed into Engage: we wanted to inspire our customers to engage with us from wherever they are in the world, whatever stage their business is at this year. And we did indeed see a strong influx of attendees representing businesses from around the world, in comparison to our typical Connect guests. That was a success for us.”
No different from previous Connect events, EFI launched several new products. New solutions premiering during Engage include new versions of EFI’s Productivity Suite, a new super high speed VUTEk XT hybrid printer, a single pass printer based on the EFI Nozomi press, and new fastest roll-toroll superwides, the VUTEk Q series.
When asked which of the new launches he is most excited about, Jacobson quipped: “Oh, I don’t know that I can pick one! I’m thrilled about them each for different reasons. There’s a lot of exciting technology within display graphics. The VUTEk XT offers remarkable throughput, completely surpassing the competition, and is going to be an amazing solution for our customers who have been looking to drive higher volume and a lower TCO.” The VUTEk XT is a hybrid flatbed/ roll-to-roll printer and a successor to the EFI VUTEk HS series. It can print
EFI Renewed: Engage, Asia Pacific, leading with humanity more than 375 boards per hour, which is nearly twice the throughput of the wide VUTEk Q3r model prints up to 558sqm per hour. of APAC over the course of 2021,” Jacobson said. VUTEk HS125 F4 printer. Asia Pacific still an important “As with most other regional markets, “Not only is it a choice for customers market eCommerce has been booming in still looking to migrate from analog to “The Asia Pacific (APAC) market the Asia Pacific market, and hand-indigital, but it’s also so high powered represents potential for enormous hand with this has been growth in the that one VUTEk XT it can replace growth. The region is one of the largest delivery and logistics industry. It is the many slower digital devices in a shop,” markets, period, and is particularly perfect market for EFI to continue said Jacobson. primed for growth in areas like display growing our corrugated business, both graphics and corrugated. The region is with our Nozomi print solution and “Our new VUTEk Q series is going also very focused on sustainable and our very strong workflow software to enable a lot of really unique and environmentally conscious solutions, productivity portfolio for corrugated,” challenging applications, and we’re and I think our portfolio fits its needs said Jacobson. all looking forward to seeing how quite well,” asserted Jacobson. our customers implement it. And of In 2018, Thailand’s Thai Container course, there are lots of wonderful EFI had a relatively successful 2020 in Group became the first, and thus far new developments within Fiery and Australia and New Zealand, scoring only, company in the region to install our Productivity Suite which will be nearly 20 new printer installations in the the EFI Nozomi C18000 Plus. The key to ensuring our customers have past year. It culminated in a partnership Nozomi is EFI’s flagship digital printer truly comprehensive and cutting-edge with Currie Group, an established and for corrugated boards. At Engage, the solutions,” Jacobson continued. independent supplier in the region. The company launched a 1.6-metre wide, partnership is expected to enable EFI single-pass UV LED printer based The new VUTEk Q3r and Q5r UV to expand its customer reach in the on the Nozomi, targeted for display LED is said to be EFI’s fastest roll- wide format industry in Australia and graphics. to-roll superwide format printers. The New Zealand. VUTEk Q series can produce a wide “Another point of growth is within range of challenging applications, like “Overall, there is an acceleration that display graphics. Especially as the the most demanding premium POP we are already seeing in APAC. Business pandemic subsides, and public events with multi-layer white and cosmetics is coming back. We are already seeing rebound – for example, within the displays that demand the highest year-over-year increases in ink volumes entertainment industry – we’ll see print quality to the highest volume in the region. It is a great leading graphics needs expand,” Jacobson campaigns that requires the lowest indicator that many APAC countries added. cost of production. The Q5r is a 198- are moving away from the pandemic inch printer that runs at speeds up to and back toward growth. And we think Industrial applications are another 672sqm per hour, while the 138-inch growth could be rapid in many parts important growth area throughout the
VUTEk XT hybrid printer,
region, but especially so in China: “Our Cretaprint business, which is focused on the ceramic tile manufacturing sector in China and other countries, continued to grow in 2020 and there is momentum in other building materials, printing on wood, for example, with our Cubik single-pass solution. One of China’s largest furniture manufacturers is currently installing a Cubik printer, and we expect there will be many more opportunities throughout APAC for that technology because digital can bring so many important efficiency and versatility advantages to new markets.”
A different take on leadership – diversity and inclusion
EFI Engage also marked the second year Jacobson took to the helm, since being named CEO in August 2019. His predecessor was Bill Muir, who served for less than a year. Muir in turn took over from long-time CEO, Guy Gecht. Since Gecht’s time, EFI’s focus is on innovation, and developing the best solutions for customers. While Jacobson hoped to continue the innovative spirit, he is specific in the impact he hopes to make in the company culture.
“One area where I have started some culture change is with regards to diversity, equity and inclusion. It is very much part of who I am, going back to my upbringing in racially diverse neighbourhoods in and around New York City,” said Jacobson. acquired EFI in 2019 in an approximate $1.7 billion deal. His career spanned 30 years, and includes stints in Kodak, Presstek and Xerox. The first 11 years however, dealt with people - in human resources at Kodak Polychrome, before going to law school and becoming a labour and employment attorney.
“In part because it has always been clear to me that organizations work best when they embrace diversity and create equal opportunities for all,” said Jacobson. “Diversity is not just a social cause; it is value creating for your business. And, in regard to women’s equity, it is impossible to exclude half of the population and believe that you will have the best talent available to you.”
Some of the actionable steps that Jacobson has taken includes working close with EFI’s human resources leadership and senior management to further the company’s diversity and inclusiveness initiatives. EFI is committed to ensuring that diversity happens at the top of the management chain.
“Not only is this the right thing to do, it also speaks to many of the core values of our parent organization, Siris Capital. Last year, Frank Baker, a founder and managing partner of Siris, and his wife Laura donated $1 million to establish scholarships at Spelman College, a historically Black college in Atlanta,” said Jacobson. “This year, my wife Irene and I were inspired to work with my alma mater, University at Buffalo, to create the Irene and Jeffrey Jacobson Fellowship for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the university’s School of Management. It is a cause I am passionate about personally, but it is also an important part of how EFI will continue to innovate and stay ahead.”
Jacobson also joined EFI in unusual times – almost immediately upon his appointment, the pandemic struck. PIA had to ask: what was it like to lead in such unusual circumstances?
“I came to EFI excited, believing that as a company we had the innovation, technology and drive to introduce some amazing new solutions to our markets and that we would continue to build the EFI brand. But I never could have known just how much we would accomplish over only a year and a half,” said Jacobson.
“I think I’ve experienced every feeling on the spectrum since I joined in 2019, from instinctive concern for our customers and our team members as we watched the pandemic unfold last year, to immense pride in those same folks as we overcame challenges to our markets and survived unpredictable difficulties. I believe that great growth can come from our greatest challenges, and I’ve never been firmer in my decision to have joined EFI. I’m still thrilled to be here, I’m proud of what our team has accomplished, and I’m excited about 2021, especially as we roll out our newest products announced at Engage,” Jacobson concluded.
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