LENEXA, Kan., June 26 -- Ryobi Limited of Japan said it has more than doubled the size of one of its three printing press manufacturing facilities in Hiroshima. Press production and assembly is now underway at the new, $17.3 million, 215,250-square foot facility, and full operations are set for October 2006. xpedx, the exclusive U.S. importer and distributor of Ryobi-branded presses for the last 31 years, said the expansion will result in increased availability of all Ryobi offset presses across the U.S. xpedx said demand is strong for Ryobi printing presses at commercial printing companies and in-plant printing operations. "This factory expansion is significant for U.S. printers because it brings them quicker access to the kinds of offset presses in high demand today," said Don Harvey, vice president and general manager of xpedx Printing Technologies, the Lenexa, KS-based, wholly owned division of xpedx. Harvey said the growing demand for Ryobi presses stems from increasing demand for short run, high quality color print. He said these jobs demand faster makereadies, faster turnaround, and benefit from press options of up to 10 colors, UV printing and drying technologies, perfecting and coating capabilities. The U.S. is Ryobi's largest press market Ryobi Limited Graphic Systems Division of Hiroshima said the increase of its printing press manufacturing capacity is in response to growing demand for printing presses in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Ryobi also said its new state- of-the-art manufacturing facility will further strengthen the company's supply chain to printers throughout the U.S. and worldwide. Ryobi said its new manufacturing center features ultra-modern production equipment and techniques. All assembly, inspections and shipping will be done from the new facility. Ryobi produces a variety of 2-up, 4-up and 6-up ultra-modern offset presses. Ryobi presses produce world-class color output cost effectively, at high speeds and with quick makereadies. Customers say Ryobi's presses are very versatile, reliable and easy to operate. A network of rapid-response local service, provided by the xpedx network of local dealers, supports all Ryobi presses in the U.S. The Ryobi press manufacturing center expansion comes amid steadily rising economic growth in Japan. The Japanese government said it ended its most recent fiscal year with the strongest annual economic growth rate since 1991, and is on track for its longest expansion since the 1940s. Business investment in Japan has remained strong for the third consecutive year.