Fiery, which provides leading digital front end (DFE) technology for production and industrial printing, announced today that it has been separated from Electronics For Imaging Inc. (EFI) and established as a separate company that will operate independently while remaining owned by EFI’s owner, Siris Capital Group LLC (together with its affiliates, “Siris”).
Toby Weiss, longtime COO and general manager of Fiery, will continue to lead the business as CEO of Fiery, with Jeff Jacobson serving as executive chairman of Fiery in addition to his role as executive chairman of EFI. Meanwhile, EFI announced the appointment of Frank Pennisi, a veteran of the industrial and technology sectors, as its CEO.
“This realignment best positions Fiery, the leading global DFE provider, to accelerate investment and win in its current markets while also strategically expanding its footprint into key adjacencies – as exemplified by Fiery’s recent acquisition of CADlink Technology Corporation,” said Jacobson. “I have always believed that digital imaging would not be where it is today without Fiery, and its separation from EFI will allow it to best serve customers in the DFE market.”
“Fiery solutions have always been about enabling digital print and making print engines better, and this is a milestone in furthering that mission,” said Weiss. “Fiery OEM partners will benefit knowing that they are working with a company that is completely focused on adding value to their print platforms with world-class color management, high-performance image processing, and automated workflows.
“Fiery will remain focused on working closely with its OEM partners, including the EFI inkjet business, to continue developing cutting-edge technology that drives the next generation of automation, accuracy, and profit potential in digital printing,” Weiss continued. “Fiery now has a greater ability to serve as a neutral partner to ensure OEMs capture success within digital print. We look forward to accelerating our investment as a standalone company while driving our expanding product portfolio, incorporating world-class color algorithms, and developing advanced cloud technology.”
EFI to Operate as an Industrial Inkjet Pure-Play
Headquartered in Londonderry, New Hampshire, EFI will be solely focused on driving the analog-to-digital transition across the packaging and corrugated, display graphics, textile, and building materials/décor end-markets for industrial inkjet.
Pennisi comes to EFI from Orora Packaging Solutions, a leading provider of custom packaging solutions with an emphasis on corrugated. While managing Orora Packaging Solutions as its president and CEO, Pennisi was an EFI customer, using EFI’s industry-leading Nozomi single-pass inkjet, super-high-speed digital printer. His experience with EFI solutions extends to the close collaboration and consulting he has done with Orora Packaging’s sister company, Orora Visual – a leading display graphics provider that is among the largest North American users of EFI VUTEk display graphics and EFI Reggiani industrial textile digital printers. Previously, Pennisi spent two decades in leadership positions at FLIR Systems (now Teledyne FLIR), Honeywell, and GE.
“As a former customer, I know that EFI’s digital industrial inkjet portfolio is unmatched in the industry,” said Pennisi. “The company’s suite of equipment, inks, and intelligent service positions it to address its customers’ most critical needs. I am thrilled to be joining EFI at this pivotal moment as the industry transitions toward digital inkjet.”
“I am excited that Frank shares our enthusiasm about the possibilities for EFI as an industrial inkjet leader and will bring his leadership and unique customer perspective to the company,” said Tyler Sipprelle, partner at Siris. “Jeff’s leadership has been pivotal since Siris’ acquisition of EFI, through the first chapter of transformation and the challenges of the COVID pandemic, and he will continue to play a critical role moving forward as EFI’s executive chairman. With Frank, Jeff, and all the passionate and committed EFI team members, I am confident we have the best possible organization to continue to transform the industrial imaging industry.”
Pennisi earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a BS in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
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About Fiery
Fiery provides digital front end (DFE) technology for production and industrial printers that ensures the highest quality of color and job management. Fiery does this through the Fiery Command WorkStation, the world’s most popular job management software that enables users around the world to manage more than two million Fiery servers driving a wide range of imaging technologies. The Fiery community includes thousands of certified Fiery professionals and experts who train, support, and master print efficiency.
About EFI
EFI is a global technology company, leading the worldwide transformation from analog to digital imaging. We understand our customers want breakthrough technologies to lead them through their digital journey. That’s why we’re passionate about driving their business growth with a scalable portfolio of products, solutions, services, support, and world-class partnerships for the manufacturing of signage, packaging, textiles, ceramic tiles, and building materials, with a wide range of printers and inks. They work together to increase profits, cut costs, improve productivity, and optimize efficiency – job after job, year after year. We’re committed to our customers’ success. And we definitely believe we have the right people, technology, and experience to help them achieve their business goals.
