German press maker manroland Goss has scored a highly sought-after order from France’s fourth-largest regional daily, citing the new press’s speed and “developed automation”.

With a paid-sale circulation of 183,000, Brittany daily Le Télégramme in Morlaix, Finistère produces 19 editions for three departments, the others being Côtes-d´Armor and Morbihan, and is part of a group active in media, business services and events.

The manroland Goss order covers a highly-automated four-tower, two-folder Colorman e:line – capable of printing two 64-page tabloids – to be installed by the middle of next year. It replaces an existing Wifag press.

The “future-oriented” technology of the new press includes the maker’s PECOM controls including ink key positioning SlidePad and tablet-based MobilPad, and is part of a package which also builds on a long-term service partnership.

The press has four splicers, four four-high printing towers and two folders, with inhouse-developed inline control closed loop systems covering automatic ink density control and fan-out for quality and waste control.

Automation includes presetting and automatic alignment in the reelstands, complete web guiding monitoring with automatic web tension control, APL automatic plate loading with pivoting robot arms in print towers, and motorised fully-convertible folders.

Some of these systems are the product of Munich-based subsidiary Grapho Metronic, developed originally for the company’s Lithoman and Rotoman commercial presses. PECOM-X is now a fully networked system with individual components linked through data management in the control and console system.

Le Télégramme président directeur général Édouard Coudurier says the new press will enable the publisher to continue to offer readers a high-circulation, multi-issue newspaper “under optimal conditions in terms of quality, time and profitability.

“Le Télégramme is therefore pursuing a dual strategy based on dense local coverage in print and on the internet, combined with an accelerated development of new digital services such as video, podcasts and thematic newsletters.”

manroland Goss web systems sales deputy vice president Dietmar Dotterweich says the order shows publishers can still achieve a payback “in today's complex and demanding newspaper environment, which is certainly struggling” by investing in state-of-the-art newspaper press technology.

“We are pretty much delighted having been selected by Le Télégramme for this interesting project,” he said.