After installing its first two flatbed presses, RP added a digital cutter in 2008.
By 2011, RP increased capacity further with the addition of a Jeti Titan wide-format printer from Agfa Graphics. This acquisition marked the beginning of an ongoing relationship with Agfa, whose Canadian headquarters (HQ) and Titan manufacturing facilities are right across the street from RP’s main office.
Since then, RP has beta-tested a variety of Agfa presses, including a second Titan and, most recently, an M-Press Leopard (see Sign Media Canada, April 2014, page 16), which was installed earlier this year to help RP compete with screenprinting companies in targeting higher-volume jobs. In 2013, the relationship was formalized with the signing of a ‘partner for development’ strategic agreement.
Under this agreement, technological developments are discussed and scheduled before equipment is tested in a live production environment under specific conditions. RP and Agfa share the costs involved.
The relationship has been highly symbiotic. RP’s expansion into wide-format graphics is mirrored in the current strategies of Agfa, which has set a goal of becoming one of the top printer manufacturers for the sign and display industry in the future.
RP has also grown in “scale and scope,” as Mazzaferro puts it, through acquisitions of other printing companies. In 2012, for example, RP purchased the outstanding shares of variable data printing (VDP) and specialty finishing company Data in Motion Marketing, which expanded in-house capacity for producing direct mail.
Mazzaferro explains such acquisition efforts are focused on gaining new staff, expertise and customer lists, but they can also add production capabilities in noteworthy ways. In 2013, for example, when RP acquired Canadian Impact Imaging’s large-format business in Mississauga, it picked up a Durst Rho 800 continuous-board UV-curing flatbed printer and related finishing equipment.
Under a special business partnership with Agfa Graphics, whose Canadian offices are right across the street, RP has beta-tested Jeti Titan and other printers.
Sharing leadership
In the midst of RP’s expansion into large-format printing, another major change was the addition of Marc Fortier as president in June 2012. Like Mazzaferro, Fortier was well-known within the Canadian graphic arts industry for bridging the gap between traditional and emerging digital printing technologies. While they are both entrepreneurial, however, their skills also complement each other, as Mazzaferro is more sales-oriented and Fortier’s expertise is in organizing business processes and structural management.
“George and I met 10 years ago and became friendly competitors,” says Fortier, who served as an executive with Transcontinental Yorkville Printing and PLM Group. “We backed each other up when we faced challenges. He was always very generous in sharing equipment knowledge and information about the industry. Eventually, we talked about working together.”
“I had my hands on everything until Marc came in,” says Mazzaferro. “We had gotten to a certain size where things were becoming difficult. I brought him in to take the company to the next level with his management experience. Now I can oversee the direction of the business without having to worry about day-to-day operations.”
As president, Fortier set about finding efficiencies between various departments that had previously operated independently. This had become increasingly important as RP expanded.
“We’ve integrated our strengths,” says Fortier. “We’ve been G7-certified for colour management by the International Digital Enterprise Alliance (IDEAlliance), for example, as we’re ensuring colour consistency across all platforms.”
Earlier this year, Fortier also became a part-owner of RP.
