MAN Roland Sees Colorful Future in Newspaper Industry
Westmont, IL--June22,2004--North American newspapers are accelerating the trend toward enhancing their color capacity and pressroom productivity, according to MAN Roland. Among its ongoing projects are:
The Los Angeles Times has assigned MAN Roland to install COLORMAN tower extensions in two of its three Southern California production facilities. The units reportedly will be the first such add-ons to run in North America, and will allow the Times to provide more color pages for its readers and advertisers.
"We currently have the capacity to print up to six sections, 96 pages, with 24 pages of full color," notes Mark H. Kurtich, senior vice president of operations at the paper. "When we're done with this project, we'll still have six sections and 96 pages, but instead of 24 pages of full color, we'll have 32."
The Bismarck Tribune, a Lee Enterprises property, has signed on to be the first newspaper in North America to be printed on the new 3x2 UNISET 75 web press from MAN Roland.
The Tribune selected the 12-page, three-wide configuration for the extra capacity the format delivers over the two-wide model. "It allows us to print more pages in less press space, thus saving money on the price of the press," says Roman Dymerski, the paper's production manager. "It also enhances our ability to conserve natural resources because we'll be using less newsprint."
The system will be delivered in November 2004, assembled on a steel substructure, and ready to print by April 2005.
MAN Roland has been selected by the Chicago Tribune to provide a turnkey press expansion solution as the newspaper embarks on a project to double its color capacity over the next two years. The press manufacturer will be adding 19 eight-couple COLORMAN tower expansions to the Tribune's 10 existing web presses.
All told, Chicago Tribune will increase its color capacity by 16 additional process color pages on typical runs.
Missouri's News Tribune Company is slated to start installing a UNISET 75 in September 2005 in a new 40,000 sq ft production center. The press will be configured with four reel stands, 32 couples and a 2:3:3 folder. It is scheduled to be operational by mid-February 2006. The company publishes a number of leading newspapers, covering Jefferson City, the state's capital, and central Missouri.
Consolidation and high technology were at the core of The Honolulu Advertiser's decision to print with two MAN Roland REGIOMAN systems. The presses now power the paper's new 147,000 sq. ft. production and distribution facility.
The Advertiser's REGIOMAN systems were delivered in August 2003 and have been up and running since May 2004. Each is equipped with seven reel splicers, and six eight-couple towers.
With 152,000 daily and 173,000 Sunday readers, The Advertiser is Hawaii's leading newspaper. With the new REGIOMAN presses, it can simultaneously print two editions of up to 56 pages each with 40 pages in full color.
Two GEOMAN presses, totaling 64 couples, 12 reels and two folders will be commissioned this month at The Grand Rapids Press in Michigan. The configuration gives the paper the ability to print up to 64 pages of full color at one time.
