New Home Media, EFI Partner for Advanced MIS/ERP Workflow, VUTEk Inkjet Overhaul

New Home Media, a Lorton, Va.-based signage printing business, will reach a new level of efficiency, productivity and quality following its significant investment in new technology from Electronics For Imaging, Inc. New Home Media purchased EFI VUTEk LX3 Pro hybrid roll/flatbed and VUTEk 5r roll-to-roll LED inkjet superwide-format printers, along with a complete EFI Midmarket Print Suite developed specifically for superwide-format inkjet business and production workflow management.
 
EFI announced the purchase during its Connect users’ conference in Las Vegas, which features an exhibit of EFI’s integrated portfolio including the Midmarket Print Suite and VUTEk LED hybrid and roll-to-roll LED inkjet printers.
 
New Home Media has come a long way since Owner and lead salesperson Chuck Smith transitioned from selling residential real estate to printing real estate signage with an old screen print press. The 28-year old business has a strong market presence and a growing digital production operation, serving Northern Virginia homebuilders. Smith and his team have a New Year’s resolution to become more efficient to better service existing customers and attract new ones. The technology partnership, where EFI is supporting the company with end-to-end production and workflow capabilities, is a big part of New Home Media’s 2018 initiative to expand and improve.
 
The energy-efficient VUTEk LED printers New Home Media is installing this month create many new opportunities because of their size and throughput. “They’re faster and we expect them to be more reliable, too,” said New Home Media’s Chief Operating Officer, Fred Cowell, of the company’s decision to upgrade from smaller UV inkjet printers to the 10-foot wide hybrid and 16-foot wide roll-to-roll LED printers from EFI.
 
Cowell believes that one of the most immediate benefits of the new printers will be a drastic reduction in setup time between media. 
 
The purchase is New Home Media’s first transaction working with EFI. 
 
In addition, New Home Media is installing EFI’s Midmarket Print Suite workflow this year. It will feature EFI Pace as its core MIS/ERP technology, and will allow New Home Media to integrate its entire business and production process, from job submission to delivery. It also will include EFI’s unique Superwide Format component technology for better, more accurate signage and graphics estimating, scheduling, and production management. EFI Fiery proServer digital front ends (DFEs) used to run the new printers will feed production data into the Suite, ensuring New Home Media’s staff have real-time, up-to-the-minute information on their production operation.