Monday, 17 September 2007

HP Acquires MacDermid ColorSpan

HP has signed a definitive agreement to acquire MacDermid ColorSpan a manufacturer of wide-format digital inkjet printers in a bid to expand its presence into the sign shop and quick-printing market as well as position it as a one-stop partner for print service providers.

Based in Minnetonka, Minn., MacDermid ColorSpan is also a supplier of UV-curable inkjet printers for display graphics and a key supplier to sign shop franchises, quick printers and other small to midsize sign-making and screen-printing businesses.

Through this acquisition, HP plans to provide lower-cost platforms and UV technologies to print service providers that are expanding into outdoor applications and more industrial workloads. The deal is also set to expand HP’s Graphic Arts portfolio of digital presses and wide-format printers and furthers HP’s Print 2.0 strategy to digitize analog prints by extending the company’s overall digital content creation and publishing platform.

“This acquisition broadens HP’s presence in the production space where the digitization of analog prints will happen,” said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, HP.

MacDermid ColorSpan President Robert J. Wenzel, who will lead the new product line at HP, said, “The combination of HP and MacDermid ColorSpan will provide our customers and channel partners with an expanded mix of quality, value and choice that is unmatched in the digital graphics printing industry.”

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Upon completion of the acquisition, MacDermid ColorSpan will be integrated into the Graphic Arts organization within the Imaging and Printing Group of HP.