Gerber Discontinues Production of Flatbed Printers

Gerber Scientific Products will exit its flatbed-printer business to focus on its range of thermal printing products, the company reports. Gerber will stop manufacturing its UV flatbed printers, including the Gerber Cat UV and Solara ion. It will, however, continue to provide its flatbed-printer customers with access to service, support, parts, and ink for a minimum of five years from the date of this announcement.

In a press release, Gerber states: “A significant contraction in the size of the flatbed market during the global downturn of 2008, followed by a sluggish market recovery, has prevented the company from profitably manufacturing and marketing these products.”

“This decision allows us the opportunity to put additional resources behind our core thermal printing products: Edge FX printers, Omega software, and specialty graphic materials,” says Stephen Lovass, president of Gerber Scientific Products. “These products provide our customers with a durable alternative for high-margin, short-run graphics in multiple industry segments.”

The announcement has no effect on Gerber’s cutting technologies, including the M3000 Digital Cutting and Finishing System, the company reports. Gerber Scientific completed the acquisition of Data Technology, Inc. — the Massachusetts-based manufacturer of automated cutting hardware for the design, die making, and short-run production segments of the packaging and graphics industries – in 2007.

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