X-Rite secures key assets from Rutherford Graphic Products to enhance packaging automation

USA – X-Rite, a leading color science and technology provider, has acquired select assets from US-based Rutherford Graphic Products (RGP). 

The transaction covers specific software and firmware components that support closed-loop press automation solutions. 

While financial details remain undisclosed, the agreement builds on years of partnership between the two firms.

RGP specializes in tools that enable scanning automation for printing presses. 

This technology allows converters to upgrade equipment without major overhauls, cutting down on material waste, automating color adjustments, and reducing machine stoppages. 

The acquisition now enables X-Rite to deliver a complete, integrated suite for press operations, combining RGP’s controls with its own scanning systems.

Jeff McKee, president of X-Rite, highlighted the practical benefits in a statement. 

He said the addition of Rutherford’s products creates a more connected automation setup that meets the daily demands of packaging production. 

This setup speeds up job processing, trims running expenses, and simplifies daily tasks for operators.

Jay Rutherford, owner of RGP, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s future. He noted that joining X-Rite would extend their joint work on reliable automation tools. 

The combined expertise, he added, supports ongoing improvements in press performance for clients.

The deal arrives amid growing focus on efficiency in the packaging sector, where precise control over production processes helps minimize environmental impact. 

For instance, integrating these assets can lead to faster color matching during runs, which in turn lowers the need for reprints and excess ink usage, key factors in sustainable operations.

This development follows a related initiative in September 2025, when X-Rite collaborated with Sun Chemical to launch expanded PantoneLIVE digital color libraries. 

Targeted at the beverage industry, these libraries ensure accurate rendering of Pantone and custom brand colors on two-piece aluminum cans. 

The tools improve color consistency across production stages, from design to final printing, and reduce variations that often result in discarded materials.

Such advancements come at a critical time for the industry. Packaging converters face pressure to meet stricter regulations on waste reduction while maintaining high output levels. 

By streamlining automation and color management, solutions like these help operations run smoother and more predictably.

Industry observers see the X-Rite-RGP tie-up as a step toward broader adoption of digital tools in printing.

With the assets now under X-Rite’s umbrella, converters gain access to updated firmware that supports real-time adjustments, potentially shortening setup times by up to 30% based on prior collaborative tests.

As the packaging market evolves, these integrations equip manufacturers to handle complex jobs with fewer resources. 

X-Rite plans to roll out the enhanced suite in early 2026, with initial pilots already underway at select US facilities.

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