EFI’s latest acquisition sees the burgeoning Silicon Valley-based digital and software company purchasing Rialco, a supplier of dye powders and colour products for digital print and industrial manufacturing industries.
EFI believes the dye-sublimation ink market, which Rialco serves, as one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global ink industry. It cites new research from Smithers Pira forecasting 18.4 per cent year over year growth in dye-sublimated material print volumes through 2021, and a greater than 100 per cent increase in volume and value of dye-sublimated printed material in that same time frame.
Stephen Emery, vice president of EFI’s ink business, says, “The deal announced today gives EFI the platform to extend the technical advantages we provide to customers in the signage, textile, ceramics and other industries that are rapidly transitioning from analogue to digital printing.”
From its United Kingdom base, Rialco will operate as part of EFI’s industrial inkjet business. EFI plans to improve its inkjet portfolio with Rialco’s advanced ink component capabilities. Rialco employees have joined EFI and will continue to work from Rialco’s facility in Bradford.
Paul Davies, a Rialco co-founder, becomes a director of EFI Rialco. He says, “Being part of EFI gives Rialco an important opportunity to continue growing our offerings as part of a leading developer of advanced industrial ink products. Our team is looking forward to working with our colleagues across EFI to bring Rialco’s innovations to a broader range of customers and markets.”
The companies have not disclosed the financial terms of the, though EFI does not expect the deal to have any marked effect on its Q1 or full-year 2016 financial results.
