WILLISTON, VT [September 11, 2007]-KBA North America, a leading manufacturer of printing presses, and xpedx, the world's largest distributor of printing papers and graphics supplies and equipment, said today they have formed a joint marketing agreement under which KBA will use printing papers from xpedx and include xpedx products in its press demonstrations, education and training seminars, and print tests.
"This alliance will benefit printers because they can see how specific papers perform on KBA presses," says Eric Frank, vice president of marketing for Williston, VT-based KBA.  "Printers will also get up-to-date information on technical and environmental issues surrounding paper and learn about new paper innovations that can help their business grow."
"xpedx is continuously looking for ways to help printers become more productive, efficient and profitable and this agreement allows us to do that. Printers can now get information and access to the best papers for their presses and their customers," said Jeff Higgins, corporate director of marketing services for xpedx.
xpedx is the largest distributor of post-consumer waste and recycled content printing papers in North America.  It also offers the greatest variety of Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified papers in the U.S., including a wide array of large-format papers.
Providing printers with expert knowledge, assistance on paper procurement, technical issues
KBA, a leader in the large format press market, said printers often need new papers and format sizes for their presses.  The alliance between KBA and xpedx will result in expanded efforts to help U.S. printers obtain large-format papers, which can be difficult to source.  Together, xpedx and KBA have selected International Paper and Sappi as preferred suppliers for papers to KBA to optimize output on KBA equipment. IP provides uncoated papers and Sappi provides coated papers.
In addition, KBA will designate xpedx as its preferred paper supplier and xpedx paper will be used in the KBA customer center in Williston, VT. Customers will benefit by being able to see different types of stock offered by xpedx used on KBA presses during demo sessions and test runs.
KBA will be joined by xpedx experts at its training seminars to talk about paper performance on-press.  The seminars are for KBA customers and other members of the North American printing industry.
The alliance also allows both companies to explore ways they can help each other more completely serve their international customers.  Both KBA and xpedx have customers worldwide.  KBA and xpedx will conduct joint sales and marketing efforts to expand service to customers.  They will also bring together their respective R&D teams as well as experts from both International Paper and Sappi to ensure even deeper collaboration between papers and presses.