The notebook manufacturers have raised prices. This is a curious occurrence, since everyone was expecting reduction in prices with the fall EFI — the world leader in colour digital print servers, super wide format printers and inks, and print management solutions for commercial and enterprise printing, has announced that UK based screen and digital printer specialist, VGL, has selected its powerful management tool, Hagen OA, to take its print business to a new level of integration and efficiency.

VGL, located in Reading, is a long standing EFI VUTEk customer, operating, amongst a wide range of other machines, a VUTEk UltraVu 2360 and an UltraVu 3300. The company runs one of the most comprehensive digital print plants in Europe, offering an impressive range of services from small format digital litho to five-metre wide super large format production. It produces work for a wide range of blue chip clients in the media, retail and corporate sectors, for names such as Sainsbury's, Walkers Crisps, Debenhams and Estée Lauder.

Hagen is EFI's enterprise solution for technology-driven, large scale operations, creating a true CIM environment by connecting production and management processes into a seamless network. EFI understands the varying needs of different types of print service providers and because of this, Hagen is designed to work in all printing sectors from large commercial printers to more niche suppliers such as screen, direct mail and publication printers. Hagen offers advanced workflow and job submission tools across all aspects of the print business from estimating, job management, scheduling, purchasing, inventory and fulfillment.

To date VGL has been using an MIS from another supplier, but with its evolving business this was no longer meeting its requirements. The company is currently embarking on a £3 million (Rs 25.75 crore) investment program, which will include the construction of a new 12,000 square feet factory, to take its floor space to over 60,000 square feet, and it required an MIS that was able to expand with the business and manage its diverse offering.

“Hagen's scalability was exactly what we needed for our unique business,” explains VGL managing director, Michael Ayerst. “It can work with our extensive range of digital and screen engines and can easily manage the wide variety of products that we produce. As we are already extremely pleased with our two EFI VUTEk engines, we are confident that we will experience the same level of quality and professionalism with Hagen OA.

“The real advantage that Hagen will bring is to speed up workflow and communication. At VGL we handle large numbers of jobs that often have short delivery times. Hagen will improve on our existing systems and allow us to scale up production.”

As part of its investment program, once the Hagen implementation is complete, next year VGL also plans to install EFI's dynamic scheduling tool, PrintFlow, and its web to print solution, PrinterSite exchange.

“EFI is passionate about providing its customers with truly integrated solutions which enable greater workflow efficiencies and in turn empower them to run leaner and more profitable businesses,” says Liz Gilmour, sales development manager, EFI.

“Earlier this year we saw the first European installation of our Logic management tool with VUTEk printers at Multigraphics in the UK and now we have the first implementation of Hagen with a VUTEk customer. I am delighted that we are being given this opportunity to streamline VGL's business operations and I think we can expect to see many more similar installations over the next 12 months,” concludes Liz.