Looks to leverage digital print strategy while capitalizing on established market share

Ann Arbor, MI, USA and Cambridge (UK) November 8, 2019 – Xitron, the leading independent developer of Harlequin RIP® and workflow products for commercial, flexo, digital, and high-speed inkjet printing has been acquired by Harlequin RIP manufacturer Global Graphics PLC from Vanguard Graphics International (VGI). A nearly 30-year Harlequin OEM, Xitron is one of Global Graphics’ longest standing partners. 

“Xitron is the lead player in prepress RIPs with some 35,000 Harlequin RIP-based installations around the world and an impressive network of dealers and distributors,” said Gary Fry, CEO of Global Graphics. “This acquisition allows us to further develop our digital print strategy with a more complete offering for industrial inkjet, such as textiles and décor, and with a broader range of prepress components for digital applications.” 

Xitron’s Navigator RIP provides prepress independence by allowing users to connect with hundreds of different output devices manufactured by a “Who’s Who” list of suppliers such as Agfa, Fujifilm, Screen, Presstek, (MarkAndy), and Heidelberg. Since the company’s inception in 1977, it has been a mainstay in professional prepress production and was recently awarded a patent for their unique USB-SCSI interface. 

Their recent concentration in high-speed inkjet systems has fostered the release of the Navigator-based Digital Front End (DFE), which supports a wide variety of popular inkjet heads from Memjet, HP, Kyocera, XAAR, Konica-Minolta, Ricoh, Canon Finetech, and Fujifilm Dimatix, among others. The DFE supports drive electronics from Meteor Inkjet and Global Inkjet Systems, which are used in many of the most popular high-speed presses available from top tier suppliers in the market today. 

 “Having developed prepress software solutions around the Harlequin RIP as an OEM partner, Xitron is looking forward to the collaboration and growth opportunities associated with this change,” said Karen Crews, president of Xitron. “As we continue to expand beyond our well-established presence in offset, flexography, screen printing, and high-speed inkjet, we’re excited to be a key part of Global Graphics’ strategic initiatives.” 

Stan Goldberg, CEO of Vanguard (which also owns Printware, LLC) said he believes the sale will benefit both companies. “As a long-time developer of the Harlequin RIP, Xitron’s prepress software products and markets align very well with Global Graphics’ strategic directions,” he said. “At the same time, Printware will have the additional financial resources necessary to take full advantage of inkjet market growth through product development or potential acquisition opportunities.”  

About Xitron
Xitron develops advanced workflow systems and interfaces to drive the prepress industry’s most popular new, and legacy output devices, prolonging our customers’ investments. In addition, Xitron’s pressroom workflow solutions extend the functionality of press consoles from several industry–leading press manufacturers. Xitron’s Navigator RIP, Raster Blaster TIFF Catcher, and Sierra Workflow solutions are recognized as prepress standards. Built around the Harlequin RIP core technology from Global Graphics and the Adobe PDF Print Engine from Adobe Systems, Xitron engineers continue to develop solutions for the graphic arts market, driving hundreds of different models of imagesetters, proofers, platesetters, inkjet printers, and digital presses. With shipments of more than 35,000 RIPs, Xitron is the largest independent provider in the market. For more information about Xitron, visit us at www.xitron.com. 

Xitron and the Xitron logo are registered trademarks of Xitron. Other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. 

About Global Graphics
Through its operating subsidiaries, Global Graphics PLC (Euronext Brussels: GLOG) is a leading developer of platforms for digital inkjet printing and type design and development. Customers for digital inkjet technology include press manufacturers such as HP, Canon, Durst, Roland, Hymmen and Mark Andy. Those for font design include numerous international brands, from manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz and Siemens, to digital media and epublishing companies. Global Graphics PLC is headquartered in Cambridge UK. Its subsidiary companies are printing software developers Global Graphics Software; the type foundry, URW Type Foundry, and the industrial printhead driver solutions specialists, Meteor Inkjet.

 

Contacts

Xitron contact
Bret Farrah
+1 734 794 1334 (direct) | +1 517 673 0715 (mobile) | Bfarrah@xitron.com 

Global Graphics PLC
Jill Taylor
+44 1223 926489 (direct) | +44 (0)7714 410598 ( mobile) | Jill.taylor@globalgraphics.com

Note to Editors:
If you need photos to accompany this release contact Bret Farrah at Xitron, +1 734 794 1334.