Tuesday, August 8, 2006
X-Rite Going Forward
X-Rite CEO Michael C. Ferrara is on the latest installment of Inside Print Media and provides a some insight into X-Rite's plans going forward now that the acquisition of GretagMacBeth is complete.
He made a couple comments that provide some fodder for discussion:
We will begin making the product line descions in August. Between now and the end of the year I think we should make most of them and make our customers aware of it.
I can imagine X-Rite is probably dealing with a Osborne-like effect as customers are holding off upgrades and new investment plans until X-Rite announces what it they have in store for the future. Ferrara pointed out that new products and solutions will be announced as drupa nears in 2008.
Innovation in color measurement and management was area of concern for a number of people I talked to when the acquisition plan was announced earlier this year. Most believed that with GMB gone, innovation would slow down as X-Rite had no competition to force it to create better products and solutions. Ferrara stated that the new X-Rite will spend about 30M on engineering and R&D annually:
We spend about 12% of sales on engineering and R&D. So combined sales of about 250M, were going to be putting a lot of money in engineering new solutions for the graphic arts and other businesses we are in.
It will be interesting to watch what the new X-Rite does between now and drupa 08.
Posted in: Color Management
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