xpedx to Distribute EFI VUTEk and Rastek Printers, Extending Reach Into Commercial Print Marketplace

CHICAGO, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- GRAPH EXPO – EFI™ (Nasdaq: EFII) and xpedx®, a division of International Paper® (NYSE: IP), today announced a new agreement under which xpedx will distribute numerous models of EFI's Rastek™ wide format and VUTEk® superwide format digital printers to commercial and in-plant printers across the U.S.  The two companies also announced the expansion of their integration of paper information into EFI print MIS systems with the addition of EFI Monarch.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061016/NYM035LOGO )

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061016/NYM035LOGO )

Best known for its award winning Fiery® controllers, EFI is a world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for commercial, packaging, 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.

xpedx is already an established reseller of EFI PrintSmith™ print MIS software, EFI Digital Storefront® Web-to-Print software, Colorproof™ XF and other graphics arts products, and now the complete Rastek portfolio and the QS line of VUTEk printers join the list.

"We're excited to expand our relationship with xpedx, in particular to bring our award-winning wide and superwide format digital printers to an even broader customer base," said Frank Mallozzi, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing, EFI.  "We expect to realize a larger market segment of commercial print than with previous partners, while print service providers of all specialties now have access to powerful Rastek and VUTEk printers that can boost their productivity, bring in new clients and increase profits. Alongside of this, we're pleased to add Monarch integration with the xpedx paper catalog, to further simplify this critical component in the supply chain."  

"To evolve their businesses, printers need to invest in systems and equipment that drive top-line revenue while reducing costs and increasing efficiency," said Dennis Killion, director of marketing, xpedx. "Wide and superwide format printing are high-growth opportunities and xpedx has the workflow and color management expertise needed to integrate these technologies into established workflows so they generate growth sooner."

xpedx and EFI Monarch Integrate Paper Procurement in Bidding and Production

Building on the success of the PrintSmith integration with the xpedx paper catalog, EFI Monarch print MIS customers now have real-time paper inventory, customer pricing and order management built-in to the Monarch software. Killion says that merging xpedx eCommerce solutions with EFI's PrintSmith and Monarch MIS systems lowers total procurement costs for a printer's largest spend. Paper and substrates account for as much as half of a total job cost, and specification decisions directly impact total job profitability, making automation a critical business issue for printers today.

EFI products are available via the xpedx distribution network, which includes merchant locations, stores, xpedx.com and the xpedx Technology Center located in metro Cincinnati.  

About xpedx

xpedx, a business of International Paper, is one of the largest business-to-business distribution companies in North America.  xpedx distributes a wide variety of printing papers, graphics, packaging and janitorial-sanitary maintenance supplies and equipment to printers, manufacturers, retailers and high-traffic facilities.  For more information, visit xpedx.com.

About EFI

EFI (www.efi.com) is a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation. EFI's award-winning solutions, integrated from creation to print, deliver increased performance, cost savings and productivity. The company's robust product portfolio includes Fiery® digital color print servers; VUTEk® superwide digital inkjet printers, UV and solvent inks; Rastek™ UV wide-format inkjet printers; Jetrion® industrial inkjet printing systems; print production workflow and management information software; and corporate printing solutions.

Note:  xpedx is a registered trademark of International Paper Company. The EFI logo, Fiery, Digital StoreFront, VUTEk, and Jetrion are registered trademarks of Electronics for Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. EFI, Rastek and PrintSmith are trademarks of Electronics for Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. Colorproof is trademark of Electronics for Imaging GmbH in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. All other terms and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners, and are hereby acknowledged.

Nothing herein should be construed as a warranty in addition to the express warranty statements provided with EFI products and services.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, that are statements other than statements of historical fact including words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "consider", "plan" and  similar, any statements related to strategies or objectives of management for future operations, products, development, performance, any statements of assumptions or underlying any of the foregoing and any statements in the future tense.  Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual or future results to differ materially.  For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with EFI's businesses, please refer to the risk factors section in EFI's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.  

EFI undertakes no obligation to update information contained herein, including forward-looking statements.

Contacts:  Katie Maller, EFI Public Relations, 650-357-3032, [email protected]; Lisa Jonas, xpedx Business Communications, 513-965-2938, [email protected]; Press/Analysts: Erik Godchaux, Media Strategy Group, 608-256-4540.

SOURCE xpedx