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Printing Presses and Machinery (New and Used, Service and Repair)
News Release from: KBA | Subject: Comet single-width, double-circumference press
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 05 March 2008
KBA Comet Press In Biggest Tasmanian
Project
As part of a AD32 million development project Australia's News Limited group has ordered a KBA Comet single-width, double-circumference press line for the Mercury in Hobart (Tasmania).
The new Comet press will comprise six Pastoline reelstands, six printing towers, a KF 3B double jaw folder and various extras The press is said to be able to print up to 96 full-colour tabloid pages and includes facilities for stitching and a quarterfold
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 9 Feb 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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It has a 578mm (22.75") cut-off and a maximum rated output of 75,000 copies per hour (cph) in straight production.
KBA said that the press's web width can be varied between 630mm and 870mm (24.75" - 34.25"), with 810mm (31.75") the standard.
The two KBA control consoles feature EAE's Print PP job scheduling and press pre-setting software, a RIP interface and a diagnostics PC for remote maintenance.
The Mercury, which was established 153 years ago, has a circulation of 51,000 copies on weekdays and 80,000 at weekends.
At present the existing 35-year-old press limits it to 80 pages, with no more than 16 pages of colour.
The various supplements, such as a 76-page one on property, must be contracted out.
Other titles include the state-wide Sunday Tasmanian with a circulation of 60,000.
News Limited's Tasmanian operation is also the state's major newspaper distributor.
According to News Limited's technical manager Barry Johnson, there were obvious synergies in going with KBA following the 2004 installation of a Comet at The Gold Coast Bulletin, another News Limited title, in Molendinar near Brisbane, Queensland.
The new press will be commissioned early next year in a new building that will also house a Ferag mailroom.
News Limited managing director Tony Yianni commented: "This project is the biggest-ever for the newspaper in Tasmania, a terrific boost and vote of confidence in its future." He added: "The new press will enable us to take control of our own destiny, bringing back in-house the 40 per cent or so of the newspaper that is printed by contractors.
But the big thing is the ability to print colour in classified, which we don't pre-print. Request a free brochure from KBA ...
We certainly expect classified to grow as a result.".
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