Goss Sells a Universal 45, Demos Next-Generation Press

By: E&P Staff Freedom Communications' Florida division ordered a Universal 45 press from Goss International for The News Herald in Panama City, Fla., following a Universal sale in 2003 to its sister paper, The Monitor, in McAllen, Texas.

According to Freedom Florida Newspapers Vice President Karen Hanes, the Monitor's Universal has proved a success, enabling the paper to "significantly increase [its] color and quality."

Replacing a 30-year-old Goss Cosmo, the 28-unit Universal for Panama City will be configured as six four-high towers and two two-high towers over 10 reelstands, with two 1:3:3 folders and both two- and four-high formers for maximum flexibility in producing sections with different page counts.

The Universal will allow the News Herald to print four sections with up to 40 pages, 24 in full color, at 45,000 copies per hour.

The paper's commercial printing operation is among Northwest Florida's largest. The Universal will take the place of two web offset presses, providing a capability of meeting almost any requirements, from smaller, low-pagination publications and inserts to larger directories.

Late last month, more than 100 members of the Goss European Users Group observed the first public demonstration of the Goss Flexible Printing System Press, in Preston, England. Goss said it will demonstrate the FPS press for customers and prospects throughout 2005.

Their meeting's conference program included a presentation by Ifra Research Director Manfred Werfel on current and emerging press technologies, updates from industry suppliers, and a visit to Trafford Park Printers, in Manchester, to see the Goss Mainstream press in operation.

The Goss FPS Press (E&P Online, July 16, 2004) features a compact color tower design and press configuration, combined with Goss Colorliner features and four years of production research by Goss' Print Quality Team.

European Users Group Chairman David Broadhurst said the presentation was supported by "comprehensive technical information and a full explanation of the press features and design." The press ran at over 80,000cph, producing what Broadhurst called "a quality newspaper product."