Ann Arbor-based Xitron has been acquired by Harlequin RIP manufacturer Global Graphics PLC from Vanguard Graphics International. A nearly 30-year Harlequin OEM, Xitron is one of Global Graphics’ longest standing partners.
“Xitron is the lead player in prepress RIPs with some 35,000 Harlequin RIP-based installations around the world and an impressive network of dealers and distributors,” Global Graphics CEO Gary Fry said in a statement. “This acquisition allows us to further develop our digital print strategy with a more complete offering for industrial inkjet, such as textiles and décor, and with a broader range of prepress components for digital applications.”
Xitron’s Navigator RIP provides prepress independence by allowing users to connect with hundreds of different output devices manufactured by a broad list of suppliers such as Agfa, Fujifilm, Screen, Presstek, (MarkAndy), and Heidelberg. Since the company’s inception in 1977, it has been viewed as a mainstay in professional prepress production and was recently awarded a patent for its unique USB-SCSI interface.
Vanguard CEO Stan Goldberg said he believes the sale will benefit both companies.
“As a long-time developer of the Harlequin RIP, Xitron’s prepress software products and markets align very well with Global Graphics’ strategic directions,” he said in a statement. “At the same time, Printware will have the additional financial resources necessary to take full advantage of inkjet market growth through product development or potential acquisition opportunities.”
