XPEDX TO MARKET AND DISTRIBUTE NEW RYOBI 40-INCH SHEETFED PRESS IN U.S.

The RYOBI 1050 Series will be available in 2009; will run up to 16,000 sheets per hour, feature state-of-the-art print quality control system.

KANSAS CITY, Kansas, March 31, 2008— xpedx today announced it will be the exclusive U.S. distributor of the new RYOBI 1050 Series, a 40-inch, high-speed offset printing press.

The new sheetfed press will make its worldwide debut at drupa 2008 in Düsseldorf, Germany, May 29-June 11, and will be offered in four-, five- or six-color models. The new press will be available to U.S. printers in 2009.

xpedx and Ryobi Graphic Systems said strong U.S. and worldwide demand exists for new choices in 40-inch offset presses. The new press will offer superior productivity, operability, reliability and quality—key characteristics required from an offset press today. It will feature a dual-monitor printing control system as standard and will offer a large variety of options, including inline printing quality control that continuously monitors and automatically controls ink density during the print run.

xpedx is the exclusive U.S. marketer and distributor of Ryobi-branded offset printing presses. Ryobi, East Hiroshima, Japan, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of sheetfed offset presses and printing technology.

The RYOBI 1050 Series can feed stock up to 42.72"x30.71", and is available in two types: a printing area of 41.34"x27.95" (S type) or 41.34"x30.31" (XL type). The press will run up to 16,000 sheets per hour and Ryobi said it is planning an 18,000-sph model.

Ryobi's new entry into the 40-inch sheetfed offset press market follows last year's U.S. introduction of the three-quarter size 920 Series, a high-speed, eight-up press that comes in four- or five-color models. Other Ryobi press equipment includes the RYOBI 780, 750, 680, 520 and DI series presses.

Standard features of the new RYOBI 1050 Series include:

• Double-diameter cylinder printing mechanism. The printing unit consists of a double-diameter impression cylinder and a double-diameter transfer drum. These cylinders, which have a large curvature ratio, transport paper with minimum flapping, providing stable paper transport even when printing on heavy stock.


• New Printing Control System, the RYOBI PCS-L. The new RYOBI PCS-L Printing Control System uses dual-operation monitors. The simultaneous display of two setting screens facilitates easy job setup and greatly improves operability.


• Programmed Inking. RYOBI Program Inking automatically sets the conversion curve for each color according to the image area ratio data calculated at prepress. The ink settings, ink fountain roller speed, and number of contacts by the ink ductor roller are all controlled based on the conversion curves to assure the optimum ink volume. This function allows the operator to proceed quickly to the next job, minimizing the amount of paper waste generated at the start of printing.


• RYOBI Semi-RPC, semiautomatic plate changer.


• Flexibility to handle a wide range of jobs. The RYOBI 1050 Series can handle stock measuring up to 42.72"x30.71". The maximum printing area with the S type is 41.34"x27.95" and 41.34"x30.31" with the XL type. The presses can also print on stock from a lightweight 0.0016" to a heavy 0.024". Although not standard, there is an option available to enable printing on 0.039" stock. The press has the flexibility to print commercial jobs such as posters, large newspaper inserts and pamphlets, as well as labels and packaging.


• New stream feeder. A new stream feeder is equipped with a blower-type static eliminator at the feeder, which effectively eliminates static electricity. This feature ensures reliable feeding of a variety of print stock.


• Suction tape feeder board. Two suction tapes securely and smoothly feed the print stock to the front lay. Highly accurate sheet feeding is achieved by efficiently decelerating each sheet with a tape slowdown mechanism. This ensures reliable front lay and pull-side guide positioning for more precise registration.


• Automatic feeder pile lateral alignment function. To ensure reliable stock feeding, when sensors detect slight alignment deviations of the paper pile at the feeder, sliders automatically adjust the position of the feed table.


• Pneumatic pull side guide. Air suction is used for the pull side guide to eliminate concerns about roller marking. Adjustment is easy for different kinds of stock and can even be carried out while printing is in progress.


• Inline coating system. Aqueous or UV varnish coating can be processed inline for fast and high value-added printing. The coating unit of the RYOBI 1050 Series has a chamber-type doctor blade system that can apply a uniform layer of varnish over the entire print surface for a fine finish. The coating unit can be raised and lowered for enhanced operability.


• Choice of four delivery systems. The delivery section is available in the following: Extra-long delivery, long delivery, semi-long delivery and standard delivery. Infrared and UV curing unit can be mounted at the delivery end. Combining a coating and UV curing unit not only provides quick drying for shorter delivery time, it also makes high-value added printing such as printing on film, metallized paper and other non-absorptive materials possible.

Optional features of the new RYOBI 1050 Series include:

• RYOBI PQS inline print quality control system. The RYOBI PQS is an inline printing quality control system that controls ink density during the print run. A CCD camera mounted at the delivery section, takes a digital image to measure the density of the color bar on the printed sheets. Values needed to correct the color densities to match those of target densities are calculated and provided as feedback to printing control system, which appropriately adjusts the openings of the ink fountain keys.
  The RYOBI PQS allows efficient color adjustment and reduces wasted printing sheets. This system also detects print defects, such as hickeys and markings, and automatically marks defective sheets by inserting marker tapes.


• Moveable shell-type skeleton transfer drums. Adjustments in the shells can accommodate different types of print stock and thickness. This ensures consistent print quality by minimizing scratching and marking of the print stock. For printing on heavyweights, the shell sections are stowed inside the transfer drum. For printing on lightweight stock, the transfer drum can be expanded by attaching the shell sections.


• RYOBI-matic-D Remote, continuous dampening system with remote on/off hickey removing function. The RYOBI-matic-D Remote substantially reduces hickeys on the plates by adopting a drive mechanism for the water form roller that creates a rotational speed difference between the water form roller and plate cylinder.


• RYOBI Full-RPC, fully automatic plate changer. Models in the 1050 Series come standard with the RYOBI Semi-RPC (semiautomatic plate changer). The Full-RPC fully automatic plate changer is available as an option. On the Full-RPC, plate mounting and removal is entirely controlled from the RYOBI PCS-L touch panel, and the operator is free to carry out other tasks while the plates are being automatically changed. With the Semi-RPC the plates are set in place using positioning pins and high-precision plate mounting is easily accomplished with push-button control. With both Semi-RPC and Full-RPC there is no need to bend the plate's leading or trailing edge.


• Transfer cylinder air guide plate. The transfer cylinders are equipped with air guide plates to ensure minimal scratching to print stock, even during high-speed printing. Air blow and suction from the plate forms a cushion between the guide and print stock and supports reliable transfer of the printed sheets.

About Ryobi Graphic Systems

Ryobi Graphic Systems, East Hiroshima, Japan, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of sheetfed offset printing presses. Ryobi offers multi-functional offset presses, hardware, software and other peripherals. The company is a world leader in high-precision large-, mid-size and small presses, DI presses and CIP4-JDF compliant digital workflows. With pressroom installations worldwide, Ryobi presses are respected for their superior print quality, cost-effectiveness, ease of operation, high reliability and precision machining.

For more information, contact xpedx Printing Technologies at 800-553-4980 or visit ryobi.xpedx.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: xpedx is always spelled all lower case.