April 29, 2002 -- Quad/Graphics and Northern Tool & Equipment have signed a new multi-year contract, extending the two companies’ four-year relationship. The contract calls for Quad to become Northern Tool’s sole printer. “We would not feel comfortable doing this with any other vendor,” said Randy Rudolph, director of Advertising for Burnsville, Minn.-based Northern Tool, whose main product lines are generators, small engines, pressure washers and hand, air and power tools. Mr. Rudolph’s company first gave Quad work in 1998. “We believe in developing partnerships with key vendors. We feel that because of Quad’s proven capabilities and expertise, we can have a production workflow that is logistically simple to use, yet sophisticated in the deliverables,” Mr. Rudolph said. Quad will print 65 million to 75 million catalogs a year for Northern Tool. They will complete the work across a single, integrated print-production plant network using a combination of sophisticated prepping, printing and binding methods. Northern Tool is familiar with Quad/Graphics’ manufacturing expertise but is just getting acquainted with the company’s asset management tool and other prepress capabilities, which Mr. Rudolph described as “the latest and greatest in technology.” He added, “We’ll leverage Quad’s prepress technology to manage our content and reduce our cycle times.” Mr. Rudolph and his colleagues feel confident about putting all of its eggs into one basket. “We are handing over big responsibilities to Quad,” he said. “We need to be partners to execute successfully. We’re excited and comfortable with knowing that our partner will deliver at every request.” Northern Tool is one of five clients of Quad/Graphics that has signed a new multi-year contract during recent weeks.