By Siva Sivapragasam
[monsoonJournal.com]
Modern Businesses are relying more and more on Print Technology to showcase their products and services. In a sense Printers and Graphic Designers are seen in today’s marketing strategies as models and Business partners helping organizations to project their businesses better.
Against such a background Messrs RJ Multi Litho Inc. is well positioned to manage all printing requirements for a modern business. The Company is well equipped with state-of the art technology to fulfill the needs from pre-press to finishing. They offer their clients a complete electronic environment in all aspects of Printing. The pre-press Department provides color scanning and photo retouching, electronic file transfer including FTP site, digital proofing and file manipulation. Most software applications are supported in both MAC and PC environments.
The person behind the success story of RJ Multi Litho Inc. is Rajeev Muthuraman, whose initial knowledge and experience in his home country helped him to engage himself in the same industry in his country of adoption. Rajeev tasted the first buds of Printing at Aitken Spence, a leading Printing establishment in Sri Lanka.
Born in Manipay- Jaffna, Rajeev had his early education at Manipay Hindu College where he studied upto Grade 10. He later attended St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna. As he himself admits it,”I had to drop out of college because of my difficulties with the English language”. Later, with the help of Mr. Somasunderam, an Accountant with the National Paper Corporation, Rajeev joined the National Apprenticeship Board to learn Printing. Mr. Muthuraman is thankful and indebted to Mr. Somasunderam even today for the role he played in engaging Rajeev in the Printing industry. In Colombo, Rajeev also ran a tutory making use of his skill in Mathematics. Like many other young men of his time, Rajeev went to the Middle East to seek better pastures. His hard work in Bahrain rewarded him with a post of Manager in the firm he worked. In 1987, he immigrated to Canada and at first settled down in Montreal. Later he moved over to Toronto and worked in a printing firm.
His entrepreneurial skills and a passion to start something of his own drove him to set up his own Printing firm. Initially RJ Multi Litho Inc. was begun only with four employees and one single manual machine. Gradually, with good quality in production coupled with timely deliveries and good prices improved sales for the firm. Today, RJ Multi Litho operates with the most modern technology in Printing, an increased number of machines, 40 personnel in sales and an equal number in its other Departments. Rajeev has imported an 8 color Komori machine which is capable of printing both sides at the same time and this is the first of its kind in Canada. Among his customers are leading Corporate clients like Kelsey’s, Rogers Cable, Montanas, York University, Sick Kids Hospital, most of the major Banks, Hotels like Delta and Fairmont Princess, Masonite from U.S. The building housing the Printing units is owned by the Company and elegantly furnished and finished. He provides full benefits to his employees and takes pride in the fact that rarely does anyone leave the Company because he provides them the best in the industry.
His partner in business and progress is Frank Barbosa who takes care of Sales and Quality. He also looks after staff welfare. Rajeev’s wife helps him with the Accounting side of the Company. RJ Multi Inc. has recently acquired another Magazine producing Company which publishes periodicals mainly for downtown shows and is titled “Performance”.
Apart from his interest in his Business, Rajeev is a keen Golf player and even has a picture taken with Bill Clinton-former U.S. President, at a Golf tournament. Rajeev also devotes his time, energy and money for sponsorship events connected with kids, sports and community cause. Among institutions and causes he has helped financially are the Providence Health Care Centre, Credit Valley Hospital Foundation, Peel Regional Police, Tsunami Relief, Hindu Mission of Missisuaga and many others. Rajeev has two grown up children attending McMaster and York Universities.
The success story of RJ Multi Litho Inc. was not offered to Rajeev Muthuraman in a plate of gold. Hard work, a passion for success, dedication, and his own entrepreneurial skills are some of the ingredients that went into the plate.