xpedx to distribute Led-UV print curing system for offset presses in US

xpedx(R) has announced that it will be the exclusive U.S. marketer and distributor of the world’s first LED-UV print curing system, an offset printing technology from Ryobi(R).

A 14″x20″ RYOBI 525GX will be the initial platform for the LED-UV curing system, with plans to extend the system to press models such as the 23″x31″ RYOBI 750 Series in the future. The new technology will be demonstrated at drupa 2008 in Dusseldorf, Germany, May 29-June 11. The new RYOBI LED-UV curing system combines an LED-UV curing unit and special LED-UV inks manufactured by Tokyo-based Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co. It will be available to U.S. printers in 2009 through xpedx Printing Technologies, the exclusive U.S. distributor of Ryobi-branded offset printing presses and a business of xpedx, the largest North American distributor of printing papers and graphics supplies and equipment.

Light emitting diodes (LED), instead of using electricity to heat up a metal filament, produce light by channeling an electric current through a semiconductor material. The result: close to 100 per cent of the electricity is converted into light, with virtually no waste heat generated. The average life of LED lights is typically measured in tens of thousands of hours.

UV curing units deliver significant productivity gains and cost savings to high-volume commercial and in-plant printers because of greatly reduced drying times. They are also environmentally friendly because they don’t generate carbon dioxide emissions.