HOUSTON - Ferrostaal, Inc. said it is now in business to provide commercial printers in the U.S. and Canada with access to top printing equipment brands, service and financing. Headquartered in Houston, Ferrostaal, Inc. recently began operations as the new master distributor of RYOBI printing presses in the two countries and named industry veterans John Torrey as President and Lionel Byron as CFO.

Ferrostaal, Inc., is now recruiting sales managers and printing equipment technicians across the U.S. and Canada. It is also now seeking independent printing equipment dealers in both countries to drive local market sales and deliver on-site and remote technical support in coordination with Ferrostaal and its manufacturing partners.

Ferrostaal, Inc.’s parent company, Essen, Germany-based Ferrostaal AG, is a global provider of integrated printing systems with a local market presence in 40 nations worldwide. Ferrostaal AG has more than 50 years of experience meeting the specialized business and technological needs of commercial, in-plant and specialty printers. It also is the master distributor of RYOBI in Mexico and across Latin America, the Middle East and in South Africa.

“Printers of all sizes must have trusted, globally experienced partners to help them succeed in today’s fast-evolving communications environments,” said Bernd Ahlmann, Senior Vice President of Equipment Solutions for Ferrostaal AG. “The appointment of John and Lionel as our top operating executives in the U.S. and Canada demonstrates our commitment to bring strong service and support to commercial printers in the world’s top print markets.”

Ferrostaal distinguishes itself among its competitors in the global printing industry with core objectives of learning from its customers, providing unrivaled service and ongoing support, embracing progress and change, and communicating directly and openly with customers and suppliers, Ahlmann said.

Background on John Torrey and Lionel Byron

Ahlmann said the appointments of Messrs. Torrey and Byron uphold and extend Ferrostaal’s strategic mission of service excellence.

John Torrey has a successful 29-year career of service to U.S. printers, most recently as vice president and general manager responsible for capital equipment at International Paper’s xpedx business (NYSE: IP), the world’s largest distributor of printing papers, graphics supplies and equipment. There, he oversaw the building of company’s equipment portfolio and worked in close partnership with many of the world’s top OEM and graphics brands. He also has a close working relationship with the senior executive team at Ryobi, Ltd., Tokyo. 

Before assuming the xpedx Printing Technologies post in 2007, Torrey served as general manager of the xpedx Northern California division for four years. Under his tenure, the division became one of the company’s top producers by financial performance. He also helped integrate two large acquisitions by xpedx in the highly competitive California market and won many top annual sales and management awards.

Before joining xpedx, Torrey worked as sales professional calling on printing companies for national and regional paper manufacturers and distributors. A Maryland native, Torrey earned a B.A. in economics from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania in 1982.

Lionel Byron is a 16-year Ferrostaal executive. Before joining the company’s U.S. operations in Houston, Byron worked as CFO for Ferrostaal Equipment Solutions (South Africa), the company’s graphics equipment business in that country. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Port Elizabeth in South Africa and is a South African Chartered Accountant.

For more information about Ferrostaal, Inc.’s U.S. and Canada operations, contact John Torrey at 281-741-6700. Ferrostaal’s headquarters are at 363 N. Sam Houston Pkwy E., Suite 1710, Houston, TX 77060.