xpedx Opens New Package Design Center in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- xpedx, one of the largest and premier distribution companies in North America, has expanded its North American network of package design with the opening of a new package design center in its Cincinnati location at 4510 Reading Road. The new package design center will allow xpedx to lower packaging costs for Cincinnati-area customers and increase their speed to market. xpedx is a business of International Paper (NYSE: IP).

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"The key capability that we're gaining with the Cincinnati package design center is increased speed to market for our customers in the Tri-State area," said Chris Baum, xpedx's general manager, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio Divisions. "Since xpedx is material neutral, we're able manage the entire process from concept and design to assembly and delivery. As a sole source packaging supplier, we give our customers a simpler, faster path to bring their products to market."

xpedx's Cincinnati package design center will serve many food service and retail packaging customers in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. However, xpedx also has package design centers with additional areas of specialty nearby in Livonia, Mich., and Pittsburgh, Pa. The Cincinnati package design center can easily access automotive and manufacturing package design expertise from those centers, as well. Throughout North America, xpedx has a network of ten package design centers and teams of design experts in 12 additional markets.

"Package design offers the highest potential for creating value, cost savings and sustainability because the design phase is first and affects everything else," said John Perrin, vice president, Packaging, xpedx. "With this growing North American network, xpedx is able to help companies everywhere use package design to drive image, customer acceptance, profitability and sustainability."

The Cincinnati package design center features xpedx's proprietary GlobalPKG software, which is web-based packaging development and management technology that allows for specification management to take place at any of xpedx's interconnected design centers in North America. The Cincinnati location also has ArtiosCAD, Kongsberg CAD and a Gaynes Drop Tester.

"With these systems all in-house in Cincinnati, xpedx can quickly design, test and produce packaging that reduces costs and drives profitability," said Baum. "Customers can have all that work done in one place by the xpedx team, without having to coordinate multiple packaging vendors. Their products go to market faster with less cost."

xpedx creates material-neutral package designs using corrugated, folding carton, specialty foams, thermoformed plastics, molded fiber and pulp and flexible packaging. It offers wide-ranging sustainability solutions, supply chain simplification and access to kitting, production and fulfillment. xpedx is also a supplier of packaging machinery, systems and substrates, with additional expertise on production line optimization.

About xpedx

Cincinnati, Ohio-based xpedx, a business of International Paper (NYSE: IP), is one of the largest and premier distribution companies in North America. xpedx distributes a wide variety of print, packaging and facility solutions supplies and equipment to printers, manufacturers, retailers and commercial facilities across North America. For more information about xpedx, its business segments and stewardship efforts visit xpedx.com.

International Paper and xpedx are registered trademarks of International Paper Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact:
Rick Ouellette, vice president, communications, xpedx
513 965-2790 / 901 573-4002
[email protected]

SOURCE xpedx