HINWIL, Switzerland — Ferag last week took the wraps off an economically priced quarterfold system aimed at newspapers that want to diversify their postpress operations.
The StreamFold, available in January, is engineered as either a stand-alone system or integrated into any Ferag system via the vendor’s UTR conveyor technology. The compact, portable unit is rated at 60,000 copies per hour and will be priced at approximately $250,000.
According to Ferag CEO Juerg Moeckli, StreamFold uses the firm’s patented W-fold technology. Dusseldorf, Germany, newspaper Rheinische Post is the first paper to purchase the system.
“This new technology allows both newspapers and commercial printers to achieve new revenue streams,” said Joe Colletti, president and CEO of Ferag Americas Inc. “In today’s difficult economic times, adding a quarterfolder system to a new or existing press can be cost-prohibitive. Now, customers are able to process this work is a timely and efficient manner.”
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sturm: No ‘bailout’ needed for newspapers
John F. Sturm, president and CEO of the Newspaper Association of America, told lawmakers at a hearing last week that while the industry does not seek a financial bailout, there are steps Congress could take to help publishers.
“Newspapers need cash now,’’ he told the Joint Economic Committee in Washington.
Where newspapers might obtain relief, Sturm said, are in areas that Congress is already considering, including the Newspaper Revitalization Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.)
The proposed legislation would allow newspapers to organize as non-profits while continuing to generate ad revenues. Sturm said the NAA believes the proposal has merit and “could work in certain situations,” assuming local citizens and civic leaders commit the resources necessary to fund a newspaper’s core journalistic function.
Sturm also said publishers would benefit from legislation that would expand the net operating loss provisions of all businesses and from steps Congress could take to allow businesses to spread out future contributions to defined benefit plans.
“Newspapers need cash now,’’ he told the Joint Economic Committee in Washington.
Where newspapers might obtain relief, Sturm said, are in areas that Congress is already considering, including the Newspaper Revitalization Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.)
The proposed legislation would allow newspapers to organize as non-profits while continuing to generate ad revenues. Sturm said the NAA believes the proposal has merit and “could work in certain situations,” assuming local citizens and civic leaders commit the resources necessary to fund a newspaper’s core journalistic function.
Sturm also said publishers would benefit from legislation that would expand the net operating loss provisions of all businesses and from steps Congress could take to allow businesses to spread out future contributions to defined benefit plans.
Manroland, Heidelberg merger getting closer?
Reports continue to circulate in the German media that Heidelberg and manroland will combine their operations, perhaps in the next two weeks.
Platow Brief, a German financial newsletter, earlier this summer reported that the two vendors would merge (see Dateline, July 27, 2009). Now, another German publication, Manager Magazin, said that Heidelberg and manroland hired Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank, respectively, to advise on the merger. The development was reported by U.K. trade publication PrintWeek, which said that neither Heidelberg nor manroland would comment on the report.
Platow Brief, a German financial newsletter, earlier this summer reported that the two vendors would merge (see Dateline, July 27, 2009). Now, another German publication, Manager Magazin, said that Heidelberg and manroland hired Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank, respectively, to advise on the merger. The development was reported by U.K. trade publication PrintWeek, which said that neither Heidelberg nor manroland would comment on the report.
Shanghai Electric completes Goss investment
Goss International said Shanghai Electric (Group) Corp. completed its investment in the press and postpress vendor, in the process becoming Goss’ second-largest shareholder.
No financial details were disclosed.
SEG in June said it would increase its stake in Goss under terms of an agreement with MatlinPatterson Global Opportunities Partners, Goss’ majority shareholder.
“Shanghai Electric has substantial resources and is focused on world-class industrial equipment manufacturing,” said Goss CEO Jochen Meissner. “Their investment should send a strong signal to printers and publishers regarding our strength, stability and long-term capacity to deliver value.
“We look forward to new opportunities to innovate and execute together through our unique worldwide platform that will include significant manufacturing operations in America, Asia and Europe.”
Goss and Shanghai Electric are longstanding partners, having created the joint-venture company Shanghai Goss Graphic Systems in 1993. The company, operated in China by SEC subsidiary Shanghai Electric Printing and Packaging Machinery Group, produces several web press models for the global market.
No financial details were disclosed.
SEG in June said it would increase its stake in Goss under terms of an agreement with MatlinPatterson Global Opportunities Partners, Goss’ majority shareholder.
“Shanghai Electric has substantial resources and is focused on world-class industrial equipment manufacturing,” said Goss CEO Jochen Meissner. “Their investment should send a strong signal to printers and publishers regarding our strength, stability and long-term capacity to deliver value.
“We look forward to new opportunities to innovate and execute together through our unique worldwide platform that will include significant manufacturing operations in America, Asia and Europe.”
Goss and Shanghai Electric are longstanding partners, having created the joint-venture company Shanghai Goss Graphic Systems in 1993. The company, operated in China by SEC subsidiary Shanghai Electric Printing and Packaging Machinery Group, produces several web press models for the global market.
MNG ready to charge fees
MediaNews Group CEO William Dean Singleton said the publisher will begin charging readers a fee to access certain online content beginning next year, a Salt Lake City television station reported.
“We can't continue to give everything away for free,” KSL reported Singleton as saying on its Web site. “When you give it away for free, it has no value. When you begin charging for it, it has some value.”
Singleton was in Salt Lake to address the National Conference of Editorial Writers. MediaNews Group The Salt Lake Tribune and also publishes the rival Deseret News under terms of a JOA.
“We can't continue to give everything away for free,” KSL reported Singleton as saying on its Web site. “When you give it away for free, it has no value. When you begin charging for it, it has some value.”
Singleton was in Salt Lake to address the National Conference of Editorial Writers. MediaNews Group The Salt Lake Tribune and also publishes the rival Deseret News under terms of a JOA.
Journal Sentinel to print STMG papers
The Sun-Times Media Group transferred production of its Chicago-area suburban publications to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel following the closure of its Northfield, Ill., printing plant.
The agreement covers the printing and packaging of 39 Pioneer Press and The Doings hyperlocal publications.
Earlier this year, STMG closed its western Chicago suburban plant and moved production of papers printed at that location to its downtown Chicago facility.
The agreement covers the printing and packaging of 39 Pioneer Press and The Doings hyperlocal publications.
Earlier this year, STMG closed its western Chicago suburban plant and moved production of papers printed at that location to its downtown Chicago facility.
American-Statesman switches to SLP plates
The Austin (Texas) American-Statesman converted to Southern Lithoplate’s Viper 830 thermal plates. The newspaper in 2007 switched to digital platemaking with thermal platesetters from Kodak. The daily is now converting a third platemaking line to CTP.
“We made the decision to convert to Southern Litho plates for quality reasons,” said Frank Mento, pressroom manager for the daily. “We have seen a drastic improvement in the reproduction quality with Viper 830 plates, particularly in areas containing large solids.”
“We made the decision to convert to Southern Litho plates for quality reasons,” said Frank Mento, pressroom manager for the daily. “We have seen a drastic improvement in the reproduction quality with Viper 830 plates, particularly in areas containing large solids.”
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