Goss Pack System Allows Chicago Tribune Zoning

One of the largest newspaper publishers in the United States has ordered six Goss Magnapak packaging systems to achieve microzoning and selective inserting capabilities.

One of the largest newspaper publishers in the United States has ordered six Goss Magnapak packaging systems to achieve microzoning and selective inserting capabilities.

Chicago Tribune Company will install five high-capacity shaftless Magnapak systems, along with Goss Omnizone supervisory controls for daily pre-print production of the Chicago Tribune at its Freedom Center in Chicago.

The technology will allow targeted zoning of the paper's inserts down to sub-zip code levels.

An additional Magnapak inserter at the Tribune Direct facility will provide selective packaging of the company's total market coverage (TMC) product for non-subscribers, added Goss.

Installation of the new Goss systems with a total of 254 stations will begin next February.

The project will be completed in 2008.

Tony Hunter, vice president of operations at Chicago Tribune Company, said: "We are investing in our pre-print production capabilities to provide advertisers with several effective delivery options to meet their targeting needs.

The Magnapak technology is proven and we're confident that Goss International will support us in maximising the advantages of that technology." Four of the Magnapak systems at the Freedom Center will have 46 stations.

A fifth will have 36 stations and be equipped for dual delivery.

The system at Tribune Direct will have 34 stations.

Goss International chief executive officer, Bob Brown, commented: "This is a visionary project driven by innovative technology and innovative ideas about how printed newspapers can deliver greater value for advertisers and readers.

We're pleased to extend our relationship with Chicago Tribune Company through an installation that highlights the potential of unique packaging and supervisory control technology." The Chicago Tribune has a daily readership of about 1.8 million people and reaches approximately 2.6 million readers on Sundays.

Goss Magnapak packaging systems are claimed to cycle at up to 30,000 papers per hour.

Systems are expandable from 12 stations to 80 stations and accommodate from one to four deliveries.

The shaftless design is said to allow independently driven hoppers to be taken in and out of production for automated zoning at full production speed.

Chicago Tribune Company publishes the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper and also operates related print and interactive media serving the Chicago area.

Chicago Tribune is the founding publication of Tribune Company, one of the country's leading media companies, operating businesses in broadcasting, publishing and on the internet.

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