EFI’s recent strategic investment of $3.5 million in Kornit Digital marks the beginning of a joint partnership in which the two companies hope to better address the demands of the printed-textile industry. EFI’s product portfolio includes print servers, wide-format inkjet printers and inks, and print-management solutions. Kornit Digital develops and sells inkjet printers for textiles, including wearables.

“EFI is impressed with Kornit's high-speed, high-quality printers and unique textile inks, their seasoned professionals, and their passion for bringing the benefits of digital inkjet technology to the garment industry,” says Guy Gecht, CEO of EFI. “This alliance aims to further Kornit's growth and accelerate the printed textile industry's transformation from analog to digital technologies.”

Kornit has more than 100 customers, mostly in North America. Its inkjet printers can image onto T-shirts and other finished garments at print speeds up to 200 T-shirts/hr. Kornit systems can print on a wide variety of fabrics, including black garments, using proprietary solvent- and water-based CMYK and white inks that are formulated to provide high image resolution, color vibrancy, and wash resistance.

“We've been seeking a partner that is a proven technology leader with a global reputation,” says Ofer Ben-Zur, CEO of Kornit Digital. “With EFI's support and strategic investment, we'll be able to extend our lead as the only digital industrial solution within the direct to garment market. EFI can offer us many sales and marketing opportunities by exposing us to their large customer base.”