Quebecor World Bolsters U.S. Platform

MONTREAL—Quebecor World is instituting a major strategic capital investment plan that includes the purchase of up to 22 new web presses for its U.S. manufacturing platform, with many supplied by MAN Roland.

The plan calls for 48-, 64-, 96- and 128-page web presses that target the company's magazine, catalog, retail and book platforms. Sixteen of those presses will be MAN Roland LITHOMAN and ROTOMAN machines.

An order has been placed for 12 presses, to be commissioned in 2005 and 2006, which carry a price tag of about $165 million. The balance, to be delivered in 2006 and 2007, will also cost $165 million.

"During the last year and a half, we have made significant strides in reducing our cost base and putting our house in order," says Pierre Karl Peladeau, president and CEO of Quebecor World. "...we can confidently invest in our platform in a way that will provide maximum benefit to our customers and return for our shareholders."

Included in the initial wave of press acquisitions are 64-page LITHOMAN book presses for one- and two-color book manufacturing; 48- and 64-page LITHOMAN presses to produce four-color commercial, magazine and book work; and 48- and 64-page ROTOMAN lines for magazine production.