MAN Roland Wins Web Press Deal In Hungary

Northcliffe International has ordered a MAN Roland Uniset web press for its at Szeged newspaper operation in the southern Hungary.

The Uniset combines coldset and heatset facilities and it will replace an aging Albert machine.

The MAN Roland Uniset will incorporate three towers, one with heatset capability, with in-line folding and a Megtec dryer for the heatset work.

The press is said by MAN Roland to be designed to be versatile, with its double circumference and single width design making it suitable for newspapers and commercial work.

The press will be installed in a new building at the Szeged site.

Target date for completion of the installation is August 2008.

Ifor Pedley, deputy managing director of Harmsworth Printing, commented: "The press will provide for the production of daily, weekly and monthly publications, including a number of quarter folded products.

The heatset capability will allow the production of work being generated internally but the extra capacity offered by the Uniset may also allow the site to compete for contract work.

Pedley added: "The installation will bring this site up to date.

The old Albert press had to make multiple runs to produce one newspaper.

This purchase will provide for faster production and allow us to meet the growing demand for colour printing." The Uniset will join Northcliffe International's growing Hungarian business, with a second site in the north of the country, at Gyor, currently having its capabilities expanded with a two-tower extension to its existing Goss press.

In 1989 the Northcliffe Newspaper Group acquired Kisalfold, the largest regional newspaper in Hungary with an average 78,000 copies, serving the north-western county of Gyor-Sopron.

The group later acquired Delmagyarorszag, the largest daily title in the south-east of the country, and the English-language weekly newspaper, The Budapest Sun.

It also invested significantly in new headquarters and printing plants in both Gyor and Szeged.

In recent years the division has expanded its Eastern European business with the acquisition of print publications and digital assets in Slovakia, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Its total Eastern European business has revenues of GBP35 million per year and annualised profits of around GBP6 million.

Vivian Baring, chairman of Northcliffe International, commented: "As part of a group with interests around the world in national and regional newspapers, broadcasting, the internet and information publishing, we intend to invest further in existing and new products and through the acquisition of suitable assets.

We maintain our determination to build on a long-standing commitment to quality and experience to create the best new media products of tomorrow." Northcliffe International publishes Delmagyarorszag, Hungary's oldest regional daily newspaper and which is claimed to be the largest selling title in the south-eastern region.

In addition it publishes Delvilag for Csongrad county.

The newspaper works with the University of Szeged, particularly on business-related issues.

In 2006 Delmagyarorszag moved into purpose-built publishing offices in Szeged.

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