Print Production & Technology

The regional press has always been at the forefront of technological innovation. The move from hot metal typesetting to highly sophisticated computerised systems and the first multi-colour producing presses are two examples of the pioneering nature of the industry. One of the latest regional press innovation is AdFast, the fastest-growing internet delivery system in the UK (see separate AdFast area of NS web site).

Regional newspapers were printing colour long before their national counterparts and continue to lead the way with quality and availability. Following the exodus from Fleet Street, there was an increasing trend for national newspapers to print a large percentage of their copies on regional publisher-owned presses.

Publishers have invested millions in new printing presses and production technology - the last few years has seen the 20-year printing press investment cycle return with confidence levels high in the future of the printed word.  The coming 12 months will see the culmination of a one billion pounds spend on high speed, full colour presses,  for both regional and national press titles - a huge commitment to the future of traditional newspapers in a multimedia era.

The production process

The web offset printing process has enabled newspapers, since the mid-80s, to move from departmentalised, foundry-type operations into integrated, computerised businesses, using printing plates produced by direct exposure from a film negative, offering far better quality and a more compatible photographic-style of printing plate production than was previously achievable.

This process has been simplified still further over the past decade, with direct imaging of the printing plate itself, cutting out the film stage. In 1997, just one newspaper group - Newsquest's (the Southern Newspapers) Southampton-based Redbridge printing plant, had live production on this new computer to plate (CTP) technology. Today, virtually all pre-press plants operate computer to plate systems.

Presses produce newspapers at ever-increasing speeds (86,000 copies per hour for the largest machines). The introduction of new technology into the production process streamlined and speeded the operation and opened doors to a vast increase in added value marketing and publishing activity through editionising, special targeted supplements and new titles.

Increasingly, we are seeing traditional newspapers stitched (stapled) and trimmed, and with an array of other added value publications, all delivered to the door sealed in plastic film or poly bags.

PJ

The NS also publishes PJ, a monthly magazine on newspaper production and technology issues. For more information about PJ contact Gary Cullum on 01442 233 656 or e-mail gc@cullumpublishing.co.uk.