CHICAGO,  -- The new RYOBI(R) 1050, a fully automated 42-inch offset press makes its North American debut at PRINT 09 Chicago, Sept. 11-16. Also debuting is the newest generation of the high-demand RYOBI 750 series of six-up presses. xpedx(R) is the master distributor of Ryobi-branded presses and peripherals in the U.S. and Canada.

xpedx (Booth 1221) will showcase the RYOBI 1050-6, a 42-3/4"x 30-3/4" fully automated eight-up, six-color press, as well as the enhanced version 31"x23" RYOBI 756G with LED-UV curing unit. Both presses will be demonstrated in a live print production environment.

The 750 series is available in up to 10 colors; the 1050 series is currently available in up to eight-color models and features an optional closed-circuit camera to continuously monitor print quality. Both the 1050 and 750 series presses run up to 16,000 sheets per hour.

The two presses spotlighted can run a wide range of substrates from super-lightweight papers to board and film--ideal for printers in package printing or seeking to add that capability. Ryobi's new LED-UV curing system, which saves big on power consumption and speeds drying time, is being shown at PRINT 09. The company's new inline casting and foiling system for special effects printing will also be discussed.

"xpedx offers proven print technologies to help printers expand their existing markets, enter profitable new ones and greatly improve throughput," said John Torrey, vice president and general manager of the xpedx Technology Center. "Ryobi is an integral part of the xpedx offer."

He noted that printers say xpedx service is an important factor in their decision to install Ryobi. Many pressmakers have eliminated local service and support in the U.S. and Canada, but xpedx has a national equipment service center that provides unmatched technical support and works closely with local service technicians. xpedx recently opened the new xpedx Technology Center, an 11,000-square-foot facility demonstrating equipment and workflows in a live print production environment. Printers from around the U.S. visit the center to test drive prepress, press and bindery equipment.

xpedx Canada recently announced an agreement with Ryobi Ltd., to be the exclusive provider of Ryobi-branded presses and peripherals in Canada. Ryobi will be represented by Toronto-based xpedx Canada, which also recently expanded into Western Canada.

RYOBI 1050 series details
The RYOBI 1050 series features a double diameter impression cylinder and a double diameter transfer drum. There is also an optional movable shell-type skeleton transfer drum that accommodates various print stocks and thicknesses. The press is ideal for package and other high-value specialty printing.

The six-color, 1050-6 model at PRINT 09 will feature an inline aqueous coater and infrared/hot air knife dryers, which speed delivery times. High-value-added printing is made possible by optional UV curing units, enabling chemical embossed and lenticular printing, and production on film, metallized paper and other non-absorptive materials. The 1050 series press is designed for highly accurate sheet feeding.

Other standard or optional technologies on the RYOBI 1050 series press include the centralized settings covering makeready, paper changing, cleaning, registration, dampening volume control and more. The inline RYOBI Printing Quality Control System monitors and controls ink density with a closed-circuit camera, allowing efficient color adjustment and reducing waste. Other options include fully automatic plate changing and automatic cleaning.

Details on newest generation of RYOBI 750 series
Ryobi has seen strong worldwide demand for its popular RYOBI 750 series of six-up presses. The newest high-speed version of this press, the 756G, offers a maximum of 16,000 sph as well as a new feeder. The RYOBI 756G prints substrates from lightweight stocks and film to thick board stock. Options debuted at PRINT 09 include moveable shell-type skeleton transfer drums similar to that on the 1050 series, and fully automatic plate changers.

The LED-UV curing unit on the RYOBI 756G is the first curing unit that replaces conventional UV lamps with long-life UV light-emitting diodes (LED), cutting power consumption in excess of 70%. Dry times are shortened, speeding job completion. The LED-UV unit is also available on the two-up RYOBI 520 series press and the eight-up RYOBI 920 series press.