August 19, 2002 – Montreal, Canada and Eerbeek, Holland – RDP Marathon Inc., manufacturer of web presses for printing of documents, direct mail, commercial, and packaging, and Drent Goebel, manufacturer of web printing presses for the document, direct mail, commercial printing, packaging and security printing industries, announced today the signing of a strategic marketing alliance. Under the terms of this agreement, RDP Marathon, in close cooperation with Drent Goebel America, will market and support Drent Goebel narrow-web products in the U.S. and Canada, including the Novaprint series, and Vision/VSOP (Variable Sleeve Offset Printing) web offset shaftless presses. Drent Goebel, in turn, will market RDP’s larger 30 to 38 inch presses, including the 26 to 38 inch perfector series in Europe. Both companies will also complement their existing press offerings by marketing and supporting each other’s products in their respective markets. Specific details of the customer service and support arrangements will be announced in the coming months, ensuring the same level of product quality and service that RDP Marathon and Drent Goebel customers have come to expect over the years. "This is a perfect match for both our companies as our products complement each other. With this broader product mix we will be able to provide customers, on both sides of the Atlantic, with a total print solution" said Eric Short, president and CEO, RDP Marathon. "Shaftless driven hybrid presses and sleeve offset technology (VSOP) will revolutionize the graphic industry. RDP Marathon has always been an advocate of innovation and reliability and are the perfect partner to market and support this technology in America," said Etienne d’Hauwe, owner/director, Drent Goebel. Drent Goebel, formed in 2001 by the merger of Drent Graphic Machines of Holland and Goebel of Germany brings over 150 years of expertise in the development and manufacturing of high quality offset rotary printing presses for the global graphics industry. Recognized worldwide for their standards of innovation, quality and reliability, Drent Goebel serves the direct mail, packaging, labels, business forms and security printing markets. RDP Marathon Inc. specializes in technical and custom engineering solutions utilizing combination print processes including litho, flexo, gravure, waterless and screen-printing for quality web printers. The RDP family of presses provides printers with the ability to serve existing markets while exploring rapidly emerging value-added segments.