China’s Tianjin Evening News Group is producing two separate newspapers – with different circulations – simultaneously on one folder of a recently-commissioned Goss press.
Performance figures for the new two-tower Newsliner 4x1 since installation led to an expression of “unreserved satisfaction” by the customer, with the new capability to produce two separate publications through one folder key to this.
Rated at up to 80,000 cph, the high-specification single circumference double-width press has a web width of up to 1562mm.
A 2:3:3 jaw folder has double independent folding couples and an upper former providing the crucial ability to simultaneously handle two individual titles with different circulations. This provides cost benefits by maximising savings on consumables while boosting press utilisation.
The press is also equipped with colour registration and ink levelling systems.
Tianjin Evening News Group has been a long-term Goss newspaper press user, and the latest installation complements production off four 2x2 (single wide, double circumference) Goss Universal, and three 2x1 Universal presses.
Vice president of Tianjin Evening News Group Li Shengli says the strong working relationship with Goss was a vital ingredient to the success of this project: “Naturally, the advanced features and overall capabilities of the equipment is first and foremost when making an investment of this magnitude and significance, but it certainly helps in the decision when you can trust your technology partner.
“Our experience with eight Goss presses over the years has been very positive,” he says.
Using the Newsliner double-width platform often favoured in Asian markets, Goss developed the 4x1 model (pictured) to exploit all the available benefits of straight-run printing for publishers requiring multi-edition products. As well as the modifications to the upper folder, this encompassed a raft of developments aimed at enhancing quality and operational stability of the 4x1 cylinder format.
The 4x1 Newsliner model has plate cylinders redesigned to reduce deflection and improve registration. Cantilevered support for plate cylinders provides greater stability and repeatability at the highest speeds, and a specially modified ‘triple raceway’ bearing system gives greater precision and easier operation, the company says. Other advanced features include optional digital inking and an enhanced fully-automated splicing system.
At Tianjin, the new Newsliner produces the flagship broadsheet ‘Tianjin Evening News’, which averages 32-40 pages per edition and has a circulation of 350,000 copies, as well as the tabloid ‘Baohai Morning Post’, which has a pagination of between 56-72 pages and a circulation of 250,000 copies.