TORONTO—R.P. Graphics and Rhino Print Solutions have entered into strategic alliance, the two companies announced Monday. There's two components to the deal: R.P. will buy Rhino's Toronto location, and also establish an alliance with Rhino's locations in Vancouver and Calgary—which are not included in the purchase—to provide printing services to national accounts. The goal is to provide coast-to-coast distribute and print model.

Marc Fortier, president of R.P. Graphics said about 15 staff will move from Rhino to R.P.'s Mississauga location. David Allan, president and CEO of Rhino will retain his title and position, but will also lead a marketing team to build up the common national client roster for both companies. The deal will close September 22.

According to Fortier the deal will bring synergies to both companies. Rhino Toronto, he said, needed to grow, either by adding scale and David Allanscope or by finding a partner,  to serve its growing list of clients. Rhino needed a stronger manufacturing presence in Western Canada to serve national accounts that need product in that area. Both companies are G7 certified, and have the same MIS platform to make integration more seamless.

Rhino bought its Toronto location, then called Marcam Cross Media, in April 2013 in order to widen its capabilities in print-on-demand and multi-channel marketing, and to bolster Rhino's ability to  to provide high-quality print-on-demand nation wide. Allan told PrintCAN the sale is not a retrenchment from that goal, but is a step forward that closely aligns the company into a new seamless organization to enhance customer value. "This move," he said, "builds on the proposition from one year ago." The Rhino Toronto location adds to what R.P. already does, and will also help with its equipment utilization, said Allan.

Allan said he had known Mazzaferro casually as an industry colleague, but as he was sizing up opportunities to be a national player, he initiated discussions with Mazzaferro, and it quickly became clear the two shared  a common vision. "This deal wouldn't work with just anybody."

Rhino, purchased by Allan in 2001, serves the advertising, design, corporate, publishing and institutional markets. 

R.P. Graphics, founded by CEO George Mazzaferro, has grown to more than 140 employees and operates in the promotional print, large format digital, e-commerce and print-on-demand sectors.