EFI recently hosted more than 1,100 customers, employees and industry experts for its Connect EFI users group conference. This year’s event, which took place January 15-18 at the Wynn Las Vegas, featured more than 150 sessions covering MIS/ERP software, web-to-print systems, industrial inkjet printers, and Fiery technology. Event highlights included a January 15 fireside chat between EFI CEO Guy Gecht and industry pioneer and Landa Corp. Chairman and CEO Benny Landa.

This edition of Connect was the largest ever, as customers had more access to EFI personnel than ever before, said Frank Mallozzi, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at EFI. “The level of interaction, and the educational programming we assembled, make Connect one of a select few conferences that provide a high return on investment by giving attendees tangible business strategies for future success,” he said.

The Connect conference helps to educate and expand attendees knowledge of EFI’s products and how those products can benefit their companies. Said one attendee, Brett McNerney, director of integrated solutions at Dayton, Ohio-based Think Patented. “It also brings together a large community of users and allows for networking that otherwise might not happen, making it a great forum for everyone to learn from each other.”

Connect also provided EFI with an opportunity to hold deeper discussions with customers while providing updates on company momentum. In keynotes, training sessions and informal conversations, EFI executives discussed the extended window of opportunity visual communications businesses have for growth as they adopt technologies that make them more efficient, more productive and more profitable.

EFI’s Gecht also announced during Connect that the company will likely seek out more strategic acquisitions in 2013, continuing the momentum EFI has had from deals to purchase companies such as web-to-print and publishing firm Online Print Solutions and print MIS/ERP provider Technique.

EFI Partners participating in Connect included: 3M Commercial Graphics, Agile Network, Bunting Magnetics, Carlson Advisors, Esko, Honle UV America, KIP America, Kodak, Konica Minolta, MBM Corp., Metamation, Metrix Software, MGI USA, Pantone, Ricoh, SmartLinc, Xerox, xpedx and Zund.

Next year’s Connect users group conference will take place January 21-24, 2014, again at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort.