CINCINNATI, Sept. 15  -- xpedx today announced it will open the xpedx Technology Center at its metropolitan Cincinnati headquarters to provide U.S. print professionals a single location where they can learn about, test and purchase new equipment and technologies covering all aspects of offset and digital printing. The center is set to open in January 2009.

The new xpedx Technology Center is the only center in the U.S. that gives printers the ability to evaluate products from multiple OEMs across all pre-press, press and post-press functions in a live print production environment. xpedx is a major supplier of equipment, software and consumables to North American commercial and in-plant printers.

The xpedx Technology Center combines the company's two print technology centers currently located in Cleveland, Ohio and metro Kansas City. Those centers are set to relocate to the Cincinnati center by year-end 2008. The xpedx Technology Center will be housed at xpedx North American headquarters and within International Paper's global technology center. xpedx said it would leverage the printing and paper scientific and R&D expertise of International Paper.

"Having the gamut of printing technology from leading manufacturers all in one central location is something printers say is important to them," said John Torrey, vice president and general manager of xpedx Printing Technologies, which is moving its headquarters to Cincinnati from Kansas City, KS. "This new facility will enable print professionals to get the equipment and technology that are the best fit for their operations."

The new xpedx Technology Center will house pre-press and workflow technologies, offset and digital presses, as well as post-press/bindery equipment and technology. Equipment is from top manufacturers including Ryobi, Kodak, Epson, Konica-Minolta, Agfa, Esko, Day International, FMA Incorporated, C.P. Bourg Inc., Morgana, Perfecta and many others.

"Printers are clear they want to see equipment and print processes in a live production environment," Torrey added. "They want to test-run equipment for themselves. They want to be able to compare products from a variety of manufacturers and choose the technology that will help their businesses grow efficiently and profitably."

Other xpedx services available across North America, including a new equipment financing program and specialized supply chain solutions for printers, will also be spotlighted at the center, Torrey said.

The new xpedx center will be staffed by expert service technicians who specialize in all aspects of printing. xpedx said it will also continue to have expert technicians locally in top U.S. printing markets. xpedx currently has a force of more than 100 equipment service technicians nationwide.

Separately, xpedx said the parts department for its Ryobi offset press business will be moved from Kansas City to a state-of-the-art distribution hub in Memphis, Tenn., by early 2009. The company said it will be able to provide quicker fulfillment across the U.S. on requests for Ryobi parts.