EFI, a provider of digital printing products, will have a sellout crowd for this week’s EFI Connect 2014 Users Conference, with every one of its attendee slots filled during event pre-registration. The January 21-24 conference will be the largest in Connect’s history, with approximately 1,500 pre-registered attendees. The larger number of registrations – one-third more than Connect 2013 – reflects increased customer interest in high-level business and technical training offered at one of the graphic arts industry’s most successful user group events.

The conference, currently in its 15th year, offers more than 150 educational sessions, including technical expert training for MIS/ERP workflow, web-to-print, eCommerce, digital front end print management and inkjet production printing using EFI’s award-winning product portfolio. This year’s conference also features a business development track developed and led by senior consultants from industry analyst firm InfoTrends.

“We have worked harder than ever before to make this year’s Connect a world-class conference and a must-attend event for print professionals looking to stay ahead in a competitive market,” says Frank Mallozzi, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at EFI. “The fact that we have reached maximum capacity for the event indicates that there is significant appetite in the market for a focused, comprehensive, educational event that gives attendees tangible information on improving their businesses.”

In addition to the increased attendance, EFI also recorded growth in partner activity, with 100% of Connect’s available exhibit space selling out in the weeks leading up to the event. Participating partners and sponsors for Connect 2014 include 3M, Canon, Esko, honle UV America, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Lintec, MBM, NAPL, People’s Capital Leasing, Ricoh, Xerox, xpedx and Zund.

In addition to partner exhibits, EFI Connect’s sold-out exhibit floor includes some of EFI’s most-advanced technologies, including EFI Wide-Format and VUTEk printers, EFI Fiery print workflow products and EFI Productivity Software MIS/ERP, web to print and eCommerce software. New EFI products on display include the EFI Digital StoreFront 7, which is making its debut at the conference. The exhibit floor also features a display of EFI SmartLinc software, a newly acquired product line offering shipping management with integrated print MIS/ERP connectivity.