CHICAGO - Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (EFI) and xpedx, a division of International Paper today announced a new agreement under which xpedx will distribute EFI's print management and workflow productivity solutions for commercial and in-plant printers across the U.S.  The two companies also have launched a joint technology-sharing initiative that will bring important new procurement and automation tools to printers that use EFI print management software.

xpedx has been named a national distributor for EFI's PrintSmith print MIS package; the EFI Digital StoreFront web-to-print platform, and its suite of graphic arts workflow and proofing solutions.  xpedx and EFI are also working to expand paper information now available to printers via EFI's MIS systems to include real-time paper inventory, customer pricing and order management into EFI's print management software.

Best known for its award winning Fiery controllers, EFI is a world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for commercial, in-plant and specialty printers worldwide.  xpedx is one of North America's largest business-to-business distributors and a top supplier to printers of all sizes in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

"Print service providers across the U.S. can benefit from our expanded relationship with xpedx," said Frank Mallozzi, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing, EFI.  "Printers now have a new source for MIS and print productivity tools, and will soon benefit from new procurement tools designed to simplify their supply chain.  These tools, which also integrate with EFI Fiery, VUTEk, Rastek and Jetrion products, offer an unparalleled level of integration to the commercial printer."

"This new agreement with EFI enables xpedx to bring important new business and technology solutions to our customers," said Dennis Killion, director of marketing for graphics at xpedx.  "This can help printers meet today's business goals: increased productivity, greater competitiveness and reduced cost."

The EFI products will be sold at more than 230 xpedx locations in North America, featured at the xpedx Technology Center in metro Cincinnati and available via xpedx.com.  Currently, xpedx is an established reseller of the entire EFI XF portfolio – graphic arts proofing and production solutions which include the Colorproof XF, Colorproof Express, Fiery XF and EFI XFlow brands. The new agreement, announced today at PRINT 09, calls for xpedx to distribute the following products: • EFI  PrintSmith, a complete MIS system for small commercial print shops, copy centers and print-for-pay companies that automates the entire business process from estimating to invoicing.

• EFI Digital StoreFront, a web-to-print platform that provides a complete, streamlined workflow from document creation, through the print production environment, to finishing and delivery.

The technology collaboration between xpedx and EFI builds on existing functionality in use today.  Currently, users can download the vast xpedx.com catalog to see available papers and descriptions by SKU.  Under the new agreement, the two companies are working together to provide stock check web service -- real-time paper availability and customer pricing to users of EFI's MIS systems.

"This relationship with EFI continues our strategy of integrating with Print MIS systems to provide key operational data to our customers," said Dave Wallace, director of customer service and eBusiness for xpedx.  "This is a significant advance because it gives printers up-to-the-minute insight on one of their most important supplies.  Better insight on paper availability and pricing translates to more accurate job bids and more efficient print production."