UK manufacturing company FFEI is celebrating 70 years of innovation in imaging technology across the fields of life science and digital print. Its product development repertoire ranges from CTP systems to digital pathology scanners, and most recently digital inkjet systems including the Graphium hybrid press and Printbar Uncovered.
Founded in 1947 by John Crosfield as an engineering firm specialising in printing press control systems, the company introduced the world’s first digital colour scanner in the 1970s. In 1997, it was acquired by Fujifilm and changed its name to Fujifilm Electronic Imaging Ltd. This was followed in 2006 by a management buyout.
Based in Hemel Hempstead, the company remains privately owned and employs around 90 staff. ‘We are very proud to be celebrating 70 years since the formation of Crosfield and 11 years since our MBO in 2006,’ said managing director Andy Cook, who has been with the company for 30 years. ‘It is testament to our dedicated and highly skilled staff and company culture that has enabled FFEI to become the go-to company for those seeking sophisticated and innovative solutions. Many of our staff have well over 30 years’ experience developing and manufacturing sophisticated digital imaging systems, both with inkjet and image scanning technologies so it’s no wonder we have become the first choice developer for so many global companies.’
He concluded, ‘Looking ahead, we plan to increase our investments in new technologies to double the number of industries and partners we are engaged with over the next five years. Investing in our staff and capabilities is the way we will keep ahead of our competition.’
