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I recently sat down with Toby Weiss, CEO of Fiery, to discuss the state of things after Epson’s acquisition of Fiery. I learned a lot. While this blog highlights some of the key facets and ramifications of the move, InfoCenter subscribers can view the full analysis of our discussion.
Fiery’s Effect on Epson (and Vice Versa)
Fiery will maintain its independence, preserving its operational structure, branding, and workforce. According to Weiss, this is vital for ensuring continuity with customers and partners. Fiery’s relationships with major production press vendors such as Canon, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, and Fujifilm will remain unaffected due to Epson’s established practice of managing competitive partnerships. Epson has a long history of navigating these relationships, supplying printheads to competitors while running its own printer business. This separation ensures Fiery will continue to function as an independent provider of digital front ends (DFEs) in the market, allowing its OEM partners to confidently rely on Fiery for DFEs and software solutions. Fiery’s success has been built on these partnerships, and maintaining independence will allow the company to stay competitive in the market.
Epson’s acquisition strengthens Fiery’s position while preserving the company’s core identity and strategic direction.
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| Toby Weiss, CEO of Fiery. |
The acquisition by Epson presents a significant opportunity for Fiery to expand its global reach into regions where Epson already has a strong presence, including Latin America, Asia-Pacific, as well as the Middle East and Africa. While Fiery has established itself in North America, Western Europe, and parts of Asia, this partnership offers a pathway to penetrate markets where Fiery is less recognized. Epson’s extensive distribution channels and market presence in these regions could accelerate Fiery’s adoption and increase brand visibility.
Weiss noted that while the company’s independence will be preserved, the association with Epson could bring added credibility in new markets, providing an edge over competitors. Additionally, the partnership gives Fiery better insight into Epson’s product portfolio, enabling Fiery to tailor its solutions for Epson’s global customers, ultimately driving growth and expanding market share across new and developing regions.
With Epson’s acquisition, Fiery anticipates increased investment in research and development—particularly in key areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud integration, and workflow automation. Weiss expressed optimism about the future, noting that both companies share a long-term vision focused on digital transformation (DX), especially in the industrial print segment. Fiery has already been growing its presence in this space, and this acquisition is expected to accelerate those efforts by leveraging Epson’s resources and expertise.
Fiery’s ability to develop solutions that meet the increasing demand for automation and efficiency in high-end and industrial markets will be crucial. Weiss highlighted the need for faster development cycles and emphasized the importance of modern, adaptable solutions for customers seeking quicker integration. The acquisition strengthens Fiery’s ability to innovate and support its partners by developing advanced DFEs, making the most of Epson’s commitment to long-term growth and the growing global demand for smarter, more efficient print solutions.
Over the next five to ten years, Fiery and Epson are expected to make a significant impact on the printing industry. Weiss identified industrial print as a key growth area, noting that the market is still in its early stages. Fiery aims to drive innovation by enabling faster and more efficient production of industrial print products. The company’s involvement in projects like Packsize machines, which produce custom shipping boxes on demand, exemplifies how industrial print can revolutionize manufacturing processes.
Weiss also emphasized the trend toward modular, rapid development in industrial printing—especially in markets like China, where printers are being built more quickly than traditional models allow. This shift aligns with Fiery and Epson’s shared goal of speeding up product development cycles and improving integration capabilities. With their combined expertise and resources, Fiery and Epson are poised to lead advancements in personalized and on-demand printing solutions, transforming the future of industrial printing.
Keypoint Intelligence Opinion
This acquisition is highly beneficial for Fiery, as it positions them within a large, well-established printing industry player with long-term strategic plans. Epson, while not directly competing with Fiery’s DFE partners in the production printing space, offers Fiery the chance to expand into regional markets where Epson has a stronger presence. Both companies share a vision of significant growth in the industrial printing segment, aligning their strategies to capitalize on this expanding market.
The value for Epson in this transaction is less immediately apparent and may become clearer once we have further insights from Epson directly. However, it is likely that Epson recognizes Fiery’s strength and sees opportunities in the growing industrial print space, leveraging Epson printheads as well as Fiery DFEs and RIPs to meet increasing demand.
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