Scailex Corporation

Scailex Corporation was the corporate successor to Scitex Corporation, an Israeli technology company established in 1968 by Efraim (Efi) Arazi. Scitex became one of Israel’s most prominent industrial technology companies by developing equipment, systems and software for graphic design, commercial printing, publishing and digital prepress. Its activities eventually extended from traditional graphics-arts workflows into high-speed digital printing, wide-format printing, variable-data inkjet technology and investments in related imaging and software businesses. During the 1990s, Scitex operated through several principal business units. The Scitex Graphic Arts Group focused on digital prepress and print-on-demand systems and was transferred to Creo Products in 2000. Scitex Digital Printing, a US-based operation in Dayton, Ohio, developed computer-controlled, high-speed variable-data inkjet printers. That business was sold to Eastman Kodak in 2004 and subsequently became associated with Kodak Versamark. Scitex Vision, an Israeli producer of large- and very-large-format printing equipment, was sold to Hewlett-Packard in 2005. The HP transaction also included certain rights to the Scitex name. Following the sale of Scitex Vision, the company changed its legal name to Scailex Corporation Ltd. on 29 December 2005. The renamed company no longer represented the former Scitex operating portfolio in the same way. Instead, it went through changes in control and business direction, including a major investment in Israeli telecommunications. In August 2009, Scailex acquired a controlling interest in Partner Communications, one of Israel’s leading cellular operators. It later relinquished that controlling position during 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Scailex was absorbed into Suny Cellular Communication. Suny had originally been established in 1994 as Israel’s official importer and distributor of Sega games, but from 1998 it primarily concentrated on importing, distributing, selling and marketing Samsung mobile devices in Israel. The absorption marked the end of Scailex as a distinct corporate entity and completed the transition from the former Scitex graphics-technology group to a company associated with communications and mobile-device distribution.

Scailex Corporation’s history is rooted in Scitex Corporation, founded in Israel in 1968 by Efraim (Efi) Arazi. Scitex developed technologies for graphic design, publishing, prepress and commercial printing and became an important symbol of Israel’s emerging technology sector. Its portfolio included computer-based graphics systems, digital printing equipment and investments in specialist imaging companies. In 1985, Scitex established Contex Graphics Systems as a joint venture with Continental Can Company. The venture worked on two- and three-dimensional design systems based on Silicon Graphics workstations, illustrating Scitex’s early expansion beyond conventional printing workflows. By the late 1990s, the company had organized its principal activities into the Scitex Graphic Arts Group, Scitex Digital Printing and Scitex Vision. Yoav Chelouche served as chief executive officer and president from 1995 to 2001. The group subsequently dismantled much of its operating portfolio. In April 2000, its graphics-arts operations were sold to Creo Products, with the transferred activities initially operating under the CreoScitex name. Scitex Digital Printing, a wholly owned US subsidiary based in Dayton, Ohio, was sold to Eastman Kodak in January 2004. The business developed high-speed, computer-driven inkjet printers for variable-data applications and was later known as Kodak Versamark. Scitex Vision originated as Idanit Technologies, incorporated in Israel in 1994. Scitex acquired the business in 1998, expanded its operations through the acquisition of a super-wide-format product line, and renamed it Scitex Vision in 2000. The business specialized in large- and very-large-format printing on paper and other materials. In January 2003, Scitex Vision was combined with Aprion Digital, another inkjet-technology business, leaving Scitex with a 75 percent interest in the combined company. Hewlett-Packard acquired Scitex Vision in November 2005, together with certain rights to the Scitex name. The name Scitex Corporation Ltd. was changed to Scailex Corporation Ltd. on 29 December 2005. The renamed company experienced further changes in control and strategic focus. In August 2009, it acquired a controlling interest in Partner Communications, a major Israeli cellular telecommunications provider. Scailex later surrendered that controlling interest during 2014 and 2015. Scitex also held minority interests in several technology companies. These included Aprion Digital, Creo Products, Jemtex Ink Jet Printing, Objet Geometries, RealTimeImage and XMPie. XMPie, a personalized-marketing and publishing-software company spun out of Scitex, was sold to Xerox in 2006. These investments connected Scitex and its successor to industrial inkjet, three-dimensional modeling, imaging, digital publishing and marketing technologies. In 2016, Scailex was absorbed into Suny Cellular Communication. Suny had begun in 1994 as Israel’s official Sega-games importer and distributor and later focused chiefly on Samsung mobile-device importation, distribution, sales and marketing in Israel. The transaction ended Scailex’s independent corporate identity.

• 2016

  Scailex is absorbed by Suny Cellular Communication

  [1]Scailex Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The separate Scailex entity ceases to exist after its absorption into Suny Cellular Communication.

• 2009

  Scailex takes control of Partner Communications

  [1]Scailex Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The company expands into cellular telecommunications through a controlling investment in Partner Communications.

• 2005

  Scitex Vision is sold and the company is renamed

  [1]Scailex Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  HP acquires Scitex Vision in November, and Scitex changes its corporate name to Scailex Corporation Ltd. in December.

• 2004

  Scitex Digital Printing is sold to Kodak

  [1]Scailex Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Eastman Kodak reacquires the digital-printing operation, which becomes Kodak Versamark.

• 2000

  Graphics-arts operations transferred to Creo

  [1]Scailex Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Scitex sells its core graphics-arts business to Creo Products in exchange for an equity interest.

• 1998

  Scitex acquires Idanit Technologies

  [1]Scailex Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The Israeli wide-format printing company is brought into the Scitex group and later becomes Scitex Vision.

• 1993

  Scitex acquires the Dayton digital-printing operation

  [1]Scailex Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Scitex acquires the Dayton Operations division associated with Kodak and develops it as Scitex Digital Printing.

• 1985

  Contex Graphics Systems joint venture is formed

  [1]Scailex Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Scitex and Continental Can Company create a venture focused on two- and three-dimensional design systems using Silicon Graphics workstations.

• 1968

  Scitex is founded in Israel

  [1]Scailex Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Efraim (Efi) Arazi establishes Scitex, which develops technology for graphics, printing and publishing.

Historically positioned as an Israeli graphics-technology and industrial-printing innovator; in its later corporate phase, it functioned primarily as an investment and holding vehicle with exposure to telecommunications.

• Graphics-arts and digital prepress systems

  Scitex Graphic Arts Group

  Scitex’s core graphics-arts business supplied systems for digital prepress, graphic production and print-on-demand workflows. The unit represented the company’s central technology franchise before being sold to Creo Products in 2000. The transferred operations initially used the CreoScitex name and were later incorporated into Creo’s broader graphics-technology portfolio.

• Industrial digital printing · 1993

  Scitex Digital Printing

  Based in Dayton, Ohio, Scitex Digital Printing developed and sold high-speed, computer-controlled inkjet printers designed for variable-data production. The business originated from a Kodak-related Dayton operation acquired by Scitex and was sold back to Eastman Kodak in 2004. Kodak subsequently renamed it Kodak Versamark.

• Large-format printing equipment · 1994

  Scitex Vision

  Scitex Vision produced large- and very-large-format printers for paper and specialty materials. It developed from Idanit Technologies and expanded through the acquisition of a super-wide-format product line. After its combination with Aprion Digital, the business was sold to Hewlett-Packard in 2005 and became part of HP’s Scitex printing portfolio.

• 2016

  Absorption into Suny Cellular CommunicationM&A

  Background

  After the company’s later corporate and telecommunications phase, Scailex was combined with Suny Cellular Communication.

  Action taken

  Scailex was absorbed into Suny and ceased to operate as a separate legal entity.

  Aftermath

  Suny continued its focus on Samsung mobile-device importation, distribution, sales and marketing in Israel.

  Source

• 2009

  Controlling investment in Partner CommunicationsM&A

  Background

  Scailex sought a major operating and investment position outside its historical printing-technology base.

  Action taken

  It acquired a controlling share in Partner Communications, a leading Israeli cellular provider.

  Aftermath

  Scailex later gave up the controlling share during 2014 and 2015.

  Source

• 2005

  Corporate renaming from Scitex to ScailexStrategy

  Background

  The sale of Scitex Vision to Hewlett-Packard included certain rights to the Scitex name.

  Action taken

  The company changed its name to Scailex Corporation Ltd. on 29 December 2005.

  Aftermath

  The successor company pursued new ownership and business activities, including telecommunications investments.

  Source

• 2004

  Sale of Scitex Digital Printing to KodakM&A

  Background

  Scitex divested its US digital-printing unit after developing it as a specialist supplier of high-speed variable-data inkjet systems.

  Action taken

  The business was sold to Eastman Kodak and renamed Kodak Versamark.

  Aftermath

  Kodak regained control of the Dayton operation and continued its development under the Versamark identity.

  Reported sale price. $250 million (January 2004)

  Source

• 2000

  Sale of the graphics-arts business to CreoM&A

  Background

  Scitex reorganized its portfolio around fewer businesses and transferred its core graphics-arts operations to Creo Products.

  Action taken

  The operations were sold to Creo, while Scitex received an equity interest in the buyer.

  Aftermath

  The transferred business initially operated as CreoScitex and later became part of Creo’s wider graphics-technology business.

  Source

1. 1Scailex Corporationen.wikipedia.org