Business / Companies
Zimpapers to commission new digitalised printing press
30 Jul 2013 at 04:28hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE Newspapers will next month commission a $2,2 million highly digitalised and efficient printing press, chief executive Mr Justin Mutasa has said.
"We are targeting a trial run mid-next month and intend going into full-time commercial production by the end of the month," Mr Mutasa said during a famirialisation tour of the new plant by Zimpapers board members yesterday.
Technicians from TPH, an Indian firm, have finished installation of the main components of the new plant.
The fully automated Orient X-Cel printing machine will replace the 30-year-old Goss Metroliner press and it is one of the biggest investments made by group in many years.
The Orient X-Cel printing press produces high quality newspapers and semi-commercial products such as gloss paper pull outs, fliers and pamphlets. The Goss Metroliner press being used to print Zimpapers publications only prints on newsprint.
Zimpapers will be able to print all its newspapers on the new press, which would drastically cut costs, improve efficiency and improve colour positions thereby attracting increased advertising volumes and new commercial business for Natprint, its subsidiary.
The new plant is twice as efficient as the old press which used to take much longer to print the various titles published under the Zimpapers stable.
"It is quite exciting that we have invested in this fully automated printing machine and that should certainly help us in achieving efficiency and high quality production," said Mr Mutasa.
Zimpapers dominates the country's media landscape, publishing 10 newspapers and a magazine. The newspapers include the flagship Herald, The Sunday Mail, Chronicle, Sunday News, H-Metro, B-Metro, Kwayedza, uMthunywa, The Manica Post and Southern Times.
In June last year, the group launched the country's first commercial radio station, Star FM, and plans are underway to establish a television station.
"We are targeting a trial run mid-next month and intend going into full-time commercial production by the end of the month," Mr Mutasa said during a famirialisation tour of the new plant by Zimpapers board members yesterday.
Technicians from TPH, an Indian firm, have finished installation of the main components of the new plant.
The fully automated Orient X-Cel printing machine will replace the 30-year-old Goss Metroliner press and it is one of the biggest investments made by group in many years.
The Orient X-Cel printing press produces high quality newspapers and semi-commercial products such as gloss paper pull outs, fliers and pamphlets. The Goss Metroliner press being used to print Zimpapers publications only prints on newsprint.
The new plant is twice as efficient as the old press which used to take much longer to print the various titles published under the Zimpapers stable.
"It is quite exciting that we have invested in this fully automated printing machine and that should certainly help us in achieving efficiency and high quality production," said Mr Mutasa.
Zimpapers dominates the country's media landscape, publishing 10 newspapers and a magazine. The newspapers include the flagship Herald, The Sunday Mail, Chronicle, Sunday News, H-Metro, B-Metro, Kwayedza, uMthunywa, The Manica Post and Southern Times.
In June last year, the group launched the country's first commercial radio station, Star FM, and plans are underway to establish a television station.
Source - herald
