Making Printing Greener and More Productive: xpedx to Distribute World's First Led-UV Print Curing System for Offset Presses in U.S.

KANSAS CITY, Kan., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- xpedx(R) announced today that it will be the exclusive U.S. marketer and distributor of the world's first LED-UV print curing system, an offset printing technology from Ryobi(R) that provides significant environmental, pressroom and financial advantages.

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A 14"x20" RYOBI 525GX will be the initial platform for the LED-UV curing system, with plans to extend the system to press models such as the 23"x31" RYOBI 750 Series in the future. The new technology will be demonstrated at drupa 2008 in Dusseldorf, Germany, May 29-June 11.

The new RYOBI LED-UV curing system cuts power usage by a minimum of 70%, eliminates ozone emissions, has a lamp life 12 times longer than conventional lamps and uses ink with no volatile organic compound (VOC) solvents. Printing with UV curing units also greatly reduces drying times.

The system combines an LED-UV curing unit and special LED-UV inks manufactured by Tokyo-based Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co. It will be available to U.S. printers in 2009 through xpedx Printing Technologies, the exclusive U.S. distributor of Ryobi-branded offset printing presses and a business of xpedx, the largest North American distributor of printing papers and graphics supplies and equipment.

Although UV technology has been available to printers for more than 30 years, Ryobi's new system is the world's first curing unit that replaces conventional UV lamps with long-life UV light-emitting diodes, cutting power consumption 70%- to 80%.

Light emitting diodes (LED) are extremely efficient. Instead of using electricity to heat up a metal filament, LEDs produce light by channeling an electric current through a semiconductor material. The result: close to 100% of the electricity is converted into light, with virtually no waste heat generated. The average life of LED lights is typically measured in tens of thousands of hours.

UV curing units deliver significant productivity gains and cost savings to high-volume commercial and in-plant printers because of greatly reduced drying times. They are also environmentally friendly because they don't generate carbon dioxide emissions.

Features of the RYOBI LED-UV curing system: -- Reduction in power consumption by 70%- to 80% -- Light source lasts 12 times longer than conventional lamps, saving time and money -- Zero ozone emissions eliminate the need for ventilation ducts and blower boxes -- No infrared irradiation is produced, minimizing the heat effect on the printing press and media, especially film -- Light source can be switched on and off, no waiting for cooling and startup -- Efficient light source operation by controlling the irradiation width to accommodate paper size -- Safer for employees to operate because there is no increase in temperature, even directly under the LED light source. There is also less heat in the pressroom and it is less expensive to operate. -- Compact control cabinet requires less floor space About Ryobi Graphic Systems

Ryobi Graphic Systems, East Hiroshima, Japan, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of sheetfed offset printing presses. Ryobi offers multi-functional offset presses, hardware, software and other peripherals. The company is a world leader in high-precision large, mid-size and small presses, DI presses and CIP4-JDF compliant digital workflows. With pressroom installations worldwide, Ryobi presses are respected for their superior print quality, cost-effectiveness, ease of operation, high reliability and precision machining.

About xpedx Printing Technologies

Kansas City, Kansas-based xpedx Printing Technologies offers printing presses, local and rapid-response technical support, press operator training, a large parts warehouse and a newly expanded 20,000 square foot Ryobi Demonstration and Learning Center. The company has a team of executive, sales and technical staff at its metropolitan Kansas City headquarters as well as a U.S. network of 50 dealers responsible for local sales and service. xpedx has a more than 30-year business relationship with Ryobi, Ltd. and Ryobi Graphic Systems.

xpedx Printing Technologies has the largest force of local, factory- trained press technicians in the U.S. to service Ryobi printing presses. The U.S. dealer network provides first-tier support, and is backed up by xpedx Printing Technologies as well as Ryobi Graphic Systems engineers in Japan. Information about Ryobi and xpedx Printing Technologies is on the web at ryobi.xpedx.com. The phone number is 800-553-4980.

About xpedx

Cincinnati, Ohio-based xpedx, a business of International Paper , is one of the largest business-to-business distribution companies in North America. xpedx distributes a wide variety of printing paper, graphics, packaging and janitorial-sanitary supplies and equipment from manufacturers worldwide. Customers include printers and publishers, manufacturers, retailers, governments and facility managers. xpedx also does business with the majority of Fortune 1000 companies.

xpedx has more than 265 locations across the U.S., Canada and Mexico and posted $7.3 billion in 2007 revenues. Other xpedx businesses include Tampa, Florida-based xpedx Supply Chain Services, a global provider of third-party logistics services; Cincinnati-based Saalfeld(R) Redistribution; Cleveland, Ohio-based xpedx National Technology Center and publishing industry suppliers Bulkley Dunton Publishing Group(R) and Strategic Paper Group.

xpedx operates a network of more than 150 retail paper and graphics stores, as well as a new retail e-commerce site at xpedxstores.com. xpedx is one of the largest providers of post-consumer waste content and recycled printing papers in North America and has chain-of-custody certification from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative(R) (SFI), Forest Stewardship Council(TM) (FSC) and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification(TM) (PEFC) at all of its U.S. locations. For more information about xpedx, visit xpedx.com.

Note: xpedx is a registered trademark of International Paper Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACTS: John Torrey, vice president and general manager, xpedx Printing Technologies, 913-631-8700; Jeff Higgins, corporate director of marketing services, xpedx, 513-965-2923; Press/Analysts: Erik Godchaux, Media Strategy Group, 608-256-4540.