LOVELAND, Ohio, September 18, 2006 -- xpedx today announced that it now distributes SpeedyDry, a proven liquid ink additive that substantially reduces ink dry times. The new national distribution agreement with Burlington, N.C.-based Genesis, LLC, allows xpedx to offer the product to commercial and in-plant printers across the U.S. SpeedyDry, which has received a respected PIA/GATF award, also reduces the need for specialty oxidizing inks, special drying equipment, frequent ink reloading and improves ink adhesion, says Genesis and printers who have used the product. The ink additive speeds dry times on average 75% and, in some cases, more than 90%, according to Genesis. It is used with most traditional inks on sheet-fed and cold-set web presses—and works with nearly all uncoated and coated papers, specialty papers and synthetic substrates. The product received the PIA/GATF Intertech Award in 2005 after being tested both by PIA/GATF and by Clemson University’s Department of Graphic Communications technicians. More than 600 North American printers now regularly use SpeedyDry, including Quebecor World and Cincinnati-based Stevenson, The Color Company. R&D officials at International Paper as well as at Arjobex, makers of Polyart, have also used the product and report strong success. “Printers have long been wary of ink additives because many just don’t work well,” explained Dan Wish, general manager, xpedx National Technology Center in Twinsburg, Ohio. “We chose this product because extensive testing on all sorts of substrates, inks and presses proved it was a formula that performed extremely well—and as promised.” “SpeedyDry allows printers to print on more challenging substrates—without the need to purchase new or special equipment. This is a great way for them to expand into new markets with zero capital equipment costs, and generate higher profits from expanded print capabilities,” Wish adds. “It also speeds up their throughput and productivity.” The additive is particularly successful with medium- and heavy-coverage uncoated and coated sheets, as well as many specialty substrates including synthetics, where ink dry times are very long, according to Genesis. “On certain jobs, a 75% reduction in drying time translates to nearly two days cut out of the production cycle,” said Genesis president Bryan Isley. “This time savings allows a printer to get to the next job much quicker and expand capacity and efficiency of the production process. It also saves printers headaches from worrying about a job going south on them.” Isley said use of SpeedyDry on one particularly tough synthetic print job saved 66 hours of dry time. Another synthetic print job went from 20 hours to two hours dry time. Both had total rub resistance, he said. Commercial printers cite advantages Larry Wagnon, pressroom manager at Cincinnati-based Stevenson, The Color Company, a midsized commercial printer, said he first used SpeedyDry with opaque white—two hits on hot stamp silver foil. “Set up and dry time would normally take one to four days. Using SpeedyDry, it took two hours to set up and was dry in less than four hours,” Wagnon said, noting Stevenson has since used the product on many other jobs. “The product is easy to use, stays open in ink fountains, rollers and blankets, washes up with ease and gives a smooth, clean lay down of ink and dots.” According to Genesis, current users of SpeedyDry report the product provides additional benefits, including: • better immunity to paper pH variations; • compatibility with metallic inks; • ability to use slower-drying inks; • harder ink cure; • improved resistance to heat in laser and thermal printers; • improved ink solvent and abrasion resistance; • wider temperature and humidity tolerance. • reduced problems with offsetting, chalking and poor adhesion. To learn more about SpeedyDry, please contact your local xpedx division or visit xpedx.com. For technical assistance please call SpeedyDry toll-free at 877-512-9205.