LENEXA, Kan. & LOVELAND, Ohio--July 19, 2005-- Company Strikes New Agreements with Ryobi Graphic Systems Executives in Japan; Now Finalizing Plans for New, Multi-Million Dollar Ryobi Press Demo Center in Metro Kansas City xpedx said today that its U.S.-based Ryobi division will expand and strengthen its national sales and technical support network through 2006. The company also reported it is now finalizing plans to build a new multi-million dollar national demonstration center in metropolitan Kansas City and announced that Don Harvey has been named vice president and general manager of the Ryobi division. In his first public comments since assuming the new post, Harvey said xpedx Ryobi will target sales of half-size and DI presses. Both types of presses are experiencing increased demand from printers because of growth in premium-quality, quick-turnaround color work. Harvey affirmed the core strategy of using independent dealers to sell and service Ryobi presses, saying it gives printers the local market presence they need today and the fastest service response time in the industry. He also said Ryobi dealers will get expanded press training, parts supply, technical, sales and marketing support. Further details on the xpedx Ryobi press demo center will be announced in Fall 2005 with a Spring 2006 target opening date. The new initiatives are part of a long-range plan by xpedx to expand resources and support to commercial printers and corporate customers. The initiatives follow new agreements struck in early July by xpedx executive vice president Art Douville, xpedx vice president of marketing Guy Belew, Harvey and Ryobi Graphic Systems senior leadership in Tokyo and Hiroshima, Japan. "xpedx and Ryobi are building on a strong 30-year business relationship," Harvey said. xpedx, North America's largest provider of printing papers and graphics supplies and equipment, is the exclusive U.S. distributor of Ryobi branded printing presses. Ryobi is a world leader in the manufacture of high-end half-size presses, DI printing presses, small presses and digital workflows. "We know there is clear market need for new options in half-size and DI printing presses, digital workflows, service/technical support and financing," said Harvey, who has spent three decades working closely with commercial printers. He said that Ryobi half-size and DI printing presses are installed at printing companies in the U.S. and worldwide because of their compelling value proposition in print quality, reliability, automation and speed. "We want to be sure that more U.S. printers know the very specific business advantages Ryobi presses deliver," he said. "Printers tell us the Ryobi offering is particularly strong because of the financing options we offer and the technical support they get live, 24/7, from their local dealer and the xpedx Ryobi network," Harvey added. xpedx Ryobi currently has 50 dealers across the U.S. responsible for local sales and service, backed up by the xpedx Ryobi headquarters, technical center and parts warehouse in metro Kansas City. The xpedx Ryobi offering features a wide variety of presses and printing technology including the following core product offerings: the RYOBI 750 series, B2-size high speed multi-color 29x23 offset presses; the RYOBI 680 series, A2-plus size high-speed multi-color offset presses; the RYOBI 520 series, A3-plus size high speed multi-color offset presses and the RYOBI 3404 DI series, A3-plus size portrait format 4-color offset presses with built-in direct imaging. The 750, 680 and 520 series are equipped with perfectors, coating units, UV curing units and infrared dryers. All presses are widely respected for their print quality and reliability. Prior to joining the xpedx Ryobi division, Harvey served eight years as corporate vice president of marketing for Graphic Imaging at xpedx, responsible for the development, strategy and execution of its graphics supplies and equipment business. Before that, Harvey was North American director of marketing for printing and publishing at Eastman Kodak Co.; he was with Kodak for 28 years in that post and in various national sales and marketing capacities. Harvey holds a B.A. in economics from Hobart College, Geneva, N.Y., and currently serves as chairman of the North American Graphic Arts & Suppliers Association (NAGASA). He lives in metro Kansas City.