Offset Printing
Spanish media group, Grupo Prensa Iberica, increases format versatility and productivity with Goss Universal press
Thursday 13. March 2008 - Goss International selected for proven reputation and short lead time New Universal press will increase capacity and improve productivity
Spanish media group Grupo Prensa Iberica has ordered a Goss Universal press to provide additional printing capacity and productivity at one of its newspaper printing subsidiaries Corporación Gráfica Penibética, based in Antequera, Andalusia. Capable of printing up to 75,000 copies per hour, the Universal press will additionally equip the facility with a range of different formats for optimum flexibility.
The new single-width, two-around press will be configured as four four-high towers, a single two-high tower and six reelstands for format versatility. The two-high tower will be fed by two reelstands providing the opportunity to either run two mono webs and increase pagination, or to add a spot color, depending on production requirements. Goss International will also supply a 2:3:3 jaw folder for maximum accuracy.
José Ma Mateos, technical director at Prensa Iberica, comments on the suitability of the Goss press to the requirements of Prensa Ibericas business, “The increased speeds and shorter makeready times provided by the Goss Universal press will allow a much shorter production window and therefore the option to print more products in a limited timeframe. While producing the high volumes we require, it will also give our customers the choice of a wider variety of formats, allowing us to appeal to a broader market. This enhanced productivity and versatility will allow Prensa Iberica to go that extra mile to satisfy its growing customer base.”
In addition to producing its own titles, La Opinión de Málaga and La Opinión de Granada at the Antequera facility, Prensa Iberica contract prints a number of other publications including the free commuter newspaper Metro, regional daily titles Area de Gibraltar and El Pueblo De Ceuta, and other regional quarterly and monthly publications.
Prensa Iberica already has a Goss M-600 press installed at a facility in Valencia. According to the companys technical director, this contributed to the decision to purchase a second Goss press, “Our positive experience with the M-600 press was a prime factor in this latest purchase, as was the excellent reputation of the Universal press in the single-width market for quality and ease-of-use. These, together with the short lead-time that Goss International was able to meet, were the crucial factors that sealed the deal.”
Investment in the new Goss Universal press comes as part of a bigger improvement project at the Antequera facility. The first stage will see the existing press hall refurbished, followed by the installation of the new Universal press. The mailroom will additionally be upgraded in order to gain maximum advantage from the speed of the new press.
Jean Segura, director of sales at Goss International, comments, “The primary demands of todays Spanish newspaper market are good service and excellent print quality, and publishers must invest wisely to achieve this. Format flexibility and reduction of waste – both material costs and time – gained through more automated processes in the production cycle are key to many businesses attaining their long-term business objectives.”
According to Prensa Ibericas technical director, the investment is expected to yield great results with customers seeing benefits such as enhanced color quality, a greater variety of formats and improved turnaround times. It is anticipated that the benefits will lead to many new business opportunities.
Prensa Iberica is one of the largest publishing groups in Spain with 17 regional daily titles and four weekly titles across nine districts – Andalusia, Asturias, the Balearic and Canary Islands, Castilla Leon, Catalonia, Galicia, Murcia and Valencia. Although the roots of the group were founded in the newspaper publishing industry, today it also has interests in the related areas of book and magazine printing, television and local radio with four television channels and three radio stations.