CHICAGO--Sept. 6, 2005-- Ryobi and its exclusive U.S. distributor xpedx will introduce new printing presses and workflows at Print 05 as part of Ryobi's largest-ever print technology exhibit in North America. The seven-day, live-demo event will underscore Ryobi's emergence as a major force in larger format printing press markets. Ryobi is at McCormick Place Booth 2045, from Sept 9-15. In the U.S., xpedx and Ryobi serve commercial printers, packaging/specialty printers, in-plant printers and quick printers. Customers with Ryobi press installations include Taylor Corporation, AG Edwards, Briggs & Stratton and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Among the items new to the U.S. printing press market and on display at Print 05 are an eight-color press with perfecting and UV curing; a new DI press using hybrid UV inks and a complete MIS/workflow system that can integrate all aspects of a printing business in real time. Other presses, peripheral equipment and Ryobi products/services will also be demonstrated. "Ryobi offers precision machining, unique cylinder configurations, fewer gripper changes, superior automation as well as a new level of printing press and MIS solutions," said Don Harvey, vice president and general manager of Lenexa, Kansas-based xpedx Printing Technologies. "For printers, this means better print quality, more efficient workflow, less make ready time and more profitable printing." Ryobi and xpedx: presses of all sizes--for printers of any size Press owners and operators in the U.S. report Ryobi and xpedx have a strong tradition of sales, service and technical support through their network of 50 dealers coast-to-coast. "As xpedx evolves its Ryobi business from what had been a small press/duplicator dealer organization into a large press organization, Ryobi is becoming an important new force in the U.S. printing marketplace," Harvey said. "We can now meet the equipment and service needs of any U.S. company that puts ink to substrate--from the largest of printers to small corner print shops," said Darren George, Midwest regional sales manager for xpedx Printing Technologies. "What they get from us is a very cost effective print solution and strong local service, backed up by one of the world's most successful and proven printing press manufacturers." xpedx recently announced it will expand sales, service and technical support of Ryobi presses and will develop a new national demonstration center in metro Kansas City by mid-2006. xpedx also recently gave its printing equipment sales and service division a new name, xpedx Printing Technologies. Executives, sales officials and technicians from Ryobi Graphic Systems in Japan, xpedx Printing Technologies and its national network of Ryobi dealers will be on hand during Print 05. Harvey will lead the xpedx team. Print 05 details: North American debut of Ryobi 8-color press, new Ryobi DI press with hybrid UV curing; JDF-compliant computer integrated manufacturing During Print 05, xpedx Ryobi execs/dealers will demonstrate the capabilities of the RYOBI 758S 8-color press. It is the first time Ryobi has shown an 8-color press in the U.S. The press is a 4/4 perfector with UV curing at the turn. Ryobi is also unveiling its RYOBI 784EP, a B-2 size 4-color, 6-up offset unit with an automatic convertible perfecting device, and the RYOBI 3404X-DI (UV), a deluxe DI press with UV curing capabilities. "No other manufacturer in the world offers this kind of DI press," said Darren George. "It allows printers to expand their business into non-paper substrates like film, plastic, metallized paper, label stock and other non-porous substrates." Ryobi will also demonstrate its other top-selling presses, as well as a new digital workflow it calls the RYOBI Smart Net color printing system. Smart Net enables printers to network every piece of equipment and process in their print shop in real time. It covers everything from central administration to estimating to pre-press, on-press, post-press and shipping. George described it as a turnkey "open architecture" information technology/MIS system that is CIP4-JDF compliant and can integrate all equipment and tasks in a printing facility.