IFS announced that Graphics Microsystems Inc. (GMI) has implemented IFS Applications to manage the production of computerized ink-control and color-measurement systems for the printing and publishing industry. The company is using IFS' manufacturing, distribution and financial applications.
"With IFS Applications, we have a product that is easy to use and integrates well with our existing systems, including our service-management system," said Jerry Funderburgh, GMI's vice president of operations. "We have been extremely impressed with the commitment of IFS' local support staff. They've gone out of their way to ensure our complete satisfaction."
GMI combines expertise in color measurement, mechanical design, digital electronics, electro-optics and software engineering to offer integrated, upgradeable solutions for press-room automation. Since the 1984 introduction of Microcolor, a computerized ink control system, GMI has become an industry leader in automated ink-control systems for new and existing presses. More than 2,500 Microcolor systems are installed worldwide on more than 400 press models.
A merger with Cosar, a pioneer of automated color measurement systems, produced the Autosmart II family of color quality systems and Autocolor closed-loop press control. In 1995, GMI introduced the ColorQuick on-web color measurement system. GMI is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., with a manufacturing facility in Rockwall, Texas, and an overseas sales and service facility in Brussels. More information is available at www.gmicolor.com.
In other IFS news, Sun Microsystems Inc. and IFS announced a comprehensive global strategic alliance to further expand their worldwide sales, marketing, support as well as collaborative engineering activities related to the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) platform.
The two companies are teaming up to help customers achieve step-by-step, cost-effective evolution to the extended enterprise. Built from the ground up on open standards, the joint offering is based on the Sun Open Net Environment (Sun One) for scalability, availability and seamless integration.
This alliance greatly expands the long-standing relationship the two companies have developed over the years, which has led to more than a hundred joint customers in various industries such as aviation, defense, utilities and manufacturing.
IFS is participating in two important Sun-led programs, the SunTone and the iForce Initiatives. Joining the iForce community, IFS will work with Sun, system integrators and customers to deliver an end-to-end, best-in-class and easy-to-deploy solution that will help customers solve business problems, decrease implementation risk and accelerate time-to-service. IFS Applications will be available in Sun's iForce Ready Centers for both companies to collaborate on proof-of-concept demonstrations and legacy integration.
For more information, visit www.sun.com or www.ifsna.com.