Both companies noted the goal of the alliance will be to provide customers across North America with an array of print, direct mail capabilities and fulfillment, as well as an integrated web-based procurement platform that allows them to automate and manage their entire supply chain.

In an interview with PrintWeek, RP Graphics President Marc Fortier explained: "The alliance is targeting large retailers and major consumer goods companies - and financial services as well - who are looking to take advantage of the customer facing interface - the web storefronts - as well as the power of our digital production capabilities and fulfillment capabilities."

Fortier added Onewurld will offers retailers and consumer brands not just variable data-based direct mail, but also fulfillment of company stationary, employee training manuals and POP signage for franchisees across Canada. "We want to become a significant partner and not just a vendor for marketing communications," he added.

Fortier said RP Graphics has created some web storefronts for its clients, but stressed Contac Services has been far more active in that space. "We began talking about serving the marketplace by combining their strength on web storefronts and fulfillment with our strength on the digital printing side," he explained. "This way we extend their digital print capabilities and they help us get into fulfillment without having to bring in an outside partner."

RP Graphics offers litho, digital, large format and variable data printing, as well as bindery, mailings and integrated marketing solutions. The company, which was founded in 1978, features two Xerox iGen 4s, two Xerox Docutech presses and an OKI digital envelope printer. On the offset side, it has a 40" Komori G40 H-UV six-color press as well as 29" Komori LSX29 Lithrone with aqueous coating.

"Fortunately for us we were a very early adopter of digital technology - and we now derive 70% of our revenues from non-traditional lithographic printing," Fortier said, adding RP Graphics won't be adding new equipment as a result of this alliance. But he did note that: "Right now we're running two shifts; in parts of our business we're already looking at going to three shifts."

In a press release announcing the alliance, Contac Services CEO Riaz Pisani added, "I am delighted with the ability to partner with RP Graphics and create Onewurld. It truly allows our combined client bases to benefit from using our organizations to handle any aspect of the supply chain. This alliance allows us to provide one solution to our customers - the Onewurld Solution."