KBA to Build Seven Prisma Presses for Indian Publisher

By: E&P Staff The DB Group companies Diligent Media Corp. and DB Corp. in Mumbai, India, placed what Koenig & Bauer AG calls the largest order for printing press lines by an Indian publisher -- seven KBA Prisma doublewide, one-around (4-by-1) presses, with 25 reelstands, 25 four-high towers and seven folders.

Diligent Media is a joint venture between television operator Zee Group and Dainik Bhaskar Group, which publishes not only the Hindi newspaper Dainik Bhaskar, but also Gujarat's Divya Bhaskar. DB Corp. is the group's printing arm. In all, the Dainik Bhaskar Group has over 40 editions, forwhich more than four million copies are printed daily at 36 sites. The group also has interests in radio, cable TV, Internet portals real estate and outdoor media.

Diligent Media titles include Daily News & Analysis (DNA), the Sunday DNA Me, and various supplements. Calling DNA "the fastest growing English newspaper in the country," CEO K U Rao said the company expects to launch DNA elsewhere. "The intention is to become a large national player with dominant readership and circulation over the next three years." DNA Me circulates 410,000 copies in Mumbai, and the group plans to exceed 600,000 copies with the 140-page national edition launched in October.

After observing the Prisma in use at the Bangkok Post, the presses were ordered to support the anticipated growth. Details about the Prismas were not immediately available.

Schematic:
The seven KBA Prisma presses that will print a raft of titles including Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar and DNA titles will ship this year.