As Hybrid Software Helix celebrates its 40th anniversary, Managing Director Justin Bailey reflects on a remarkable journey — from the company’s first major technology resulting from a university research project, to its position today as a globally respected leader in digital printing software.
2026 marks an incredible milestone for us at Helix: it’s 40 years of pushing the boundaries of digital printing technology and empowering OEMs, software vendors and partners around the world.
Founded as Harlequin in Cambridge in 1986, the company’s main technology was a raster image processor (RIP) known as ScriptWorks, the result of a university research project, and which later became the trusted Harlequin RIP®. Over the past four decades, our technologies have helped shape the way digital print systems handle color, speed, and more recently, artificial intelligence. We’re proud to own 100% of our intellectual property and remain independent of any print manufacturer.
We’ve seen many changes over those 40 years and there have been some pivotal moments that have shaped who we are today. In 1999 we were acquired by Global Graphics and continued to develop our Harlequin and Jaws RIPs. Our expertise in page description languages (PDLs), such as PostScript® and PDF, resulted in being chosen by Microsoft to provide consultancy and proof-of-concept development services on XPS, Microsoft’s then new print and document format, and we worked with the Windows development teams on its specifications.
In 2003 we opened an office in Tokyo to meet the growing demand for print software solutions in the Japanese market. The office recently celebrated a milestone anniversary and we’re really proud of its success, thanks to Yoshiyuki Hagiwara and his team.
At the forefront of innovation
We’ve consistently focused on innovation, listening to our customers, and responding to market changes, as brand owners and consumers expect more from print. Of course, like any technology company that has spanned four decades, our journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Each major shift, from PostScript to PDF, from analogue to digital, and the rise of industrial inkjet printing, has seen us required to rethink, adapt, and sometimes reinvent.
In 2021, we launched our award-winning SmartDFE™, a suite of components that enables engineering teams to get to market faster. We’ve adapted and learned along the way, resulting in SmartDFE being the industry’s first suite of components to include print intelligence with our patented Autotune™ AI technology to meet the needs of a market where print expertise is declining. And today, we’re proud to say that we’re first to the market with our Apex™ technology – GPU-native technology that doesn’t just offload some of the rendering to the GPU, it runs entirely on the GPU, delivering true high-speed PDL rendering.
Key acquisitions
There have been acquisitions along the way too, including TTP Meteor Ltd in 2016, Xitron, LLC in 2019, Hybrid Software in 2020, and ColorLogic GmbH in 2021, with the formation of Hybrid Software Group in 2022. Together we’re the only company that can offer a complete, end-to-end print software stack, and importantly, we’re the only company in our industry that can drive any digital press with technology developed entirely in-house.
Innovation recognized and rewarded
Over the years, our commitment to innovation has been recognized across the printing industry with numerous awards and patents. These honors reflect not only the quality of our technology but also the strength of our partnerships and the trust our customers place in us to deliver real business value. We are extremely proud to have been honored with both a King’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation in 2025 and a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation in 2020, the most prestigious business awards in the UK.
A new identity for a new era
Last year we took a bold step forward, saying a fond farewell to the name Global Graphics Software and embracing a new identity: Hybrid Software Helix. This rebrand wasn’t just a name change, it was a reflection of our evolution from a core RIP developer into a provider of smarter, embedded print technologies, helping OEMs build intelligent, next-generation printing solutions.
The name Helix captures what we do best: much like DNA encodes life’s complexity and intelligence, our software delivers the embedded intelligence that powers modern industrial print systems.
Looking forward with purpose
As we celebrate 40 years, we’re just getting started. The world of print is evolving rapidly – from AI and Industry 5.0, to smart factories and connected workflows – and Hybrid Software Helix is poised to drive the next wave of innovation. Our future roadmap continues to focus on intelligent systems, performance-driven solutions, and technologies that help our customers succeed in an ever-competitive landscape.
We’re also grateful for the incredible team behind our success – talented engineers, visionary leaders, and passionate partners who have shaped our journey.
To our customers, partners, team members, and the broader print community: thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to 40 years of achievements – and many more to come.
About the author
Justin Bailey joined Helix (then Global Graphics Software) as sales director in 2014 and has been the managing director since 2018. His key focus is steering the company towards excellence in digital press technology for the industrial inkjet market. He is committed to continually optimizing partners’ digital printing systems to achieve optimum print quality and speed, and to accelerate their time to market.
Email: Justin.bailey@hybridsoftware.com
LinkedIn: Justin Bailey | LinkedIn
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