MARLOW HEIGHTS, MD, October 12, 2006 -- Large U.S. government contract printer McDonald & Eudy Printers has installed its first Ryobi press, a 23x29 inch 5-color with convertible perfecting and coater. The family-owned large web and sheetfed printer is a Top 10 U.S. Government Printing Office printing vendor by volume. Ryobi is one the world’s leading manufacturers of offset printing presses. Ryobi presses are being demonstrated at Graph Expo 2006, Oct. 15-18, in Chicago, xpedx Booth 3812. McDonald & Eudy president Mike McDonald said he needed a fast make-ready, high print-quality mid-size press that would expand capacity and reduce workload on the company’s other 4-color presses. After researching offerings from other leading press manufacturers, he selected the 5-color, 23x29 inch RYOBI 755 XLP-G with convertible perfecting and coater. The press runs at a maximum of 15,000 sheets per hour. “We were very impressed with the quick make-readies, the speed at which the Ryobi gets up to full color and the overall ease of operation,” said McDonald. “What’s more, because of the auto inksetting on the Ryobi, our paper waste is down substantially.” “Another time and cost saver is the coater,” he said. “We now have a quicker turnaround when a piece comes off the press. We can take print work to the bindery in 15-20 minutes and go right into production. Before the Ryobi, we used to have to wait two to three hours before we could touch a printed piece when coating offline.” McDonald, whose firm has been in business since 1951, said service was another critical issue in deciding to go with Ryobi. He receives highly responsive service from xpedx and xpedx Printing Technologies, Hanover, MD, his local xpedx and Ryobi dealer. “We like that xpedx is local and the fact we have a deep, long-term relationship with them already. They’re immediately responsive—and they don’t have to charge travel time expenses when we need service on our press.” Kenny Leitch, equipment specialist/salesman for xpedx Printing Technologies in Hanover, MD, worked closely with McDonald through the initial search process, the install, and continues to work with him for all ongoing needs. “McDonald & Eudy needed a press that was streak-free, highly efficient and produced spot-on color,” said Leitch. “When we ran proofs on the RYOBI 755, its double-sided cylinders increased dwell time between the units and streaking didn’t occur as it did on other non-Ryobi presses.” Both McDonald and Leitch said Ryobi’s PDS-E scanner, which quickly gets the Ryobi press up to full color, is technologically well ahead of competitors’ offerings—at substantially less cost.