October 2nd, 2006 – French local weekly newspaper La Manche Libre has placed an order for a new four-tower shaftless double-width Goss Uniliner press. The purchase has been made in response to a significant rise in customer demand for color advertising and higher production levels. The press will be installed at the end of the year and will come into production beginning of 2007. M. J. Péron, technical director, La Manche Libre, comments, “The French newspaper market is changing, and newspapers need to be able to print in full color. We also have a requirement to produce more pages, without compromising our delivery deadlines. The double-width, two around format of the Uniliner press will deliver the precise productivity we need to remain one step ahead of our customers’ requirements.” Designed for medium-sized newspapers looking for greater flexibility, the Uniliner press is capable of straight and also collect production, and speeds up to 75,000 copies per hour (37,500 copies in collect mode). The new 560 mm cut-off press for La Manche Libre will be configured as four four-high towers with a 2:3:3 folder featuring straight/collect push-button changeover and quarterfold capability. The press has been specified with a range of features to ensure higher quality output, faster job turnaround and reduced makeready waste. These include: Level 3 press controls with job data storage capability Self-learning motorized ink keys with remote control and pre-setting Automatic independent circumferential and lateral register controls on every couple Three-roller dampening Web tension controls and web-break detectors Remote diagnostic access to the entire press Dust extraction system Once installed, the new press at La Manche Libre in St Lô will be able to produce 128 pages in full color – double its current capacity. Independently owned, La Manche Libre is constantly looking to improve its print quality and differentiate itself from other local newspapers. As Péron explains, “The Goss Uniliner press will enable us to stay ahead in this very competitive market well into the future by providing the flexibility to adapt to developing trends. In addition to this, Goss International has a very good reputation for delivering excellent technical support – we feel we have purchased much more than just a web offset press.” La Manche Libre has been investing consistently over many years to keep pace with the best that technology can offer for improved quality, efficiency and productivity. Since going CTP in the 90’s, pre-press production at the company has been 100 percent digital; a state-of-the-art distribution system was also recently installed. With the Uniliner press up and running, according to Péron, La Manche Libre’s entire production process will be “far more efficient”. An independent family business founded in 1944, La Manche Libre is currently France’s first locally distributed weekly newspaper and keeps on progressing. It is also the first information media in the Manche region. Other titles printed at the facility include, Courrier de la Mayenne, Journal du Pays de Vitré, Le Haut Anjou, L’informateur and several free newspapers such as NOTA (500,000 copies).