Fujifilm heralds Xerox tie-up at TPE

Fujifilm further cemented its partnership with Xerox at Total Print! Expo (TPE) this week, where it demonstrated its Toner Quality Contol (TQC) software on a Xerox DocuColor 8000 live on its stand.

Fujifilm hailed its first appearance at the show as a success, which also marked the first UK outing for the Fuji Xerox partnership, thanks to high levels of interest in its growing digital portfolio.

UK marketing director Graham Leeson said: "In terms of our equipment portfolio, 12 months ago digital probably wasn't as much of a focus for us, whereas it definitely is now.

"Drupa was a watershed for us because we were able to demonstrate our traditional strength in workflow and CTP alongside wide-format inkjet and the Xerox kit coupled with our software.

"We're now into workflow and digital in a very big way and so it's important to re-position ourselves in the eyes of printers."

Leeson added that there had been a good deal of interest in the company's unreleased Jet Press 720 B2 inkjet press, despite the fact it won't be commercially available until 2010.

He said: "It's interesting and useful to have that kind of response even though the commercial launch is still some way off. A lot of customers are saying that a B2 digital machine would slot into their business very effectively.

"If today's digital presses are competitive on runs of 500 to 1,000 copies, this would be competitive to 2,000 at least."

Version 2 of Fuji's XMF cross-media workflow, which is now commercially available following its Drupa launch, is central to the company's plans to boost its presence in the digital sector.

Leeson said: "XMF will be the heart of what drives the Jet Press. It was developed with that in mind and it provides visibility of our long-term strategy."