Litho Development and Research

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LDR has established a reputation as a provider of total electronic publishing solutions by combining the finest hardware and software available into tightly integrated, open systems. Incorporated in 1961, LDR has served the graphic arts industry for 40 years now with products and services including computer-to-plate solutions (CTP), traditional printing presses and digital presses, bindery equipment, consumables, inventory management, online ordering and E-commerce, and environmental chemical compliance solutions. LDR is committed to investing in leading edge technology that will provide an excellent return on investment for its customers.

In 1972, Ralph Johnson, current CEO, purchased LDR and, along with seven other employees, began growing the company to its current level of almost 200 employees and nearly $100 million in annual sales. LDR is now one of the largest graphic arts distributors in the western United States with seven branch offices. LDR has accomplished these results by being focused on becoming the value-added supplier for the graphic arts industry.

In 1984, LDR changed from a regular profit-sharing company to an ESOP (Employee Stock Option Plan) company. With a vested interest in LDR, employees continue to focus on satisfying customers.

With its corporate headquarters located in Portland, Oregon, LDR serves its customers with the aid of an IBM Systems AS/400 minicomputer system. This system, which gives LDR's seven branches a central information management system, was developed over 20 years at a cost of $600,000. It provides timely information for purchasing as well as prompt, error-free invoices and sales information. LDR's advanced consumer-inventory management system allows customers to use valuable cash flow dollars by maintaining a minimum supply of inventory.

For the past 15 years, LDR has enjoyed national distribution rights for Shoei folders, Itotec cutters, and Kudo joggers. The LDR International division sells, distributes, and supports paper handling and finishing hardware while continuing to search the globe for better machines that can increase productivity.

In 1990, LDR established its electronic publishing division whose staff has grown to 45 well-qualified personnel offering state-of-the-art electronic publishing solutions to the industry. With staff devoted to research and development, LDR is able to thoroughly examine a wide spectrum of equipment and software and provide customers with a full range of quality prepress products. Recent efforts include work in digital press systems, workflow managment, and Web publishing solutions. By the end of fiscal 1998, LDR had an installed base of more than $100 million in electronic publishing solutions.

Growth and change have been constant at LDR over the years. On September 1, 1991, LDR purchased Smart Supply in Sacramento, and Hayward and Forrest Chemical in Sacramento and San Francisco. Offices of both companies were consolidated in Sacramento and San Francisco. In August of 1996, LDR purchased the Orange County branch of VGC Corporation to better service customers in the Los Angeles area. These purchases have positioned LDR as the largest graphic arts dealer west of the Mississippi.

Agfa is a major consumable vendor of LDR's, providing top-quality film, imagesetting plates, and electronics to the printing industry, with a recent emphasis on computer-to-plate (CTP).

LDR is one of eleven top graphic arts dealers who are members of #1 Network, the nation's largest graphic arts distribution organization. With over 40 locations, #1 Network combines the massive purchasing power of its member-dealers to provide products to customers at lower prices.

LDR's Business-to-Business E-procurement Web site, the Inventory Management System (IMS) Online was inaugurated in February of 1999. Since then the system has grown steadily, with an average total sales of $300,000 a month (as of January 2001). The site gives customers 24x7 availability to manage inventory, place orders, maintain advanced purchasing limits control, monitor order history.

The #1 Network Online Catalog, LDR's Business to Consumer (and Business to Business) E-commerce site, was inaugurated in August 1999. The site focuses on office products and graphic arts industry and printing supplies. The catalog now has nearly 10,000 items (as of January 2001) from over 100 vendors and suppliers, including #1 Network and its own brand of superior quality imagesetting film, paper, plates, chemistry, etc.