Finding opportunity for expansion in today's UK newspaper market, the Newbury Weekly News Group recently started production on its new Goss Uniliner press. The independent printer and publisher has almost doubled its printing capacity at its Newbury facility to meet increased demand for contract printing services.

Managing director Adrian Martin comments, "We undoubtedly maintain our confidence in the future of local newspapers. The installation of the new press has generated a number of enquiries from customers regarding new product formats and reduced timeframes – publishers are working hard to stay competitive whilst providing the best possible product for readers and are making the necessary changes to do it."

The double-width Uniliner press has been installed at 90 degrees to an existing Goss Universal press that was purchased in 2005. Configured as two four-high towers, two reelstands and a 2:3:3 jaw folder, the Goss International installation team worked closely with the Newbury Weekly News Group to make best use of the space available and gain maximum productivity and value from the new press.

"Configuring the Uniliner press so that it can run independently or together with the Universal press has been a challenge which has provided the Newbury Weekly News Group with huge scope for production," states John Chambers, Goss International sales director for the UK and Ireland. "Standalone, the Uniliner press can produce up to 64 tabloid pages in full-color, but combined with the Universal press, production capacity is boosted to 160 pages in full color."

Since the introduction of the new press, several titles printed by Newbury Weekly News Group including the Maidenhead Advertiser and the Newquay Voice, have undergone revamps, benefitting from the high-quality printing of the Goss press line. Martin confirms, "The print quality produced by the Uniliner press is excellent."

Chambers adds, "As the first Uniliner press to be installed in the UK, this is an important milestone for Goss International. A popular system with installations of over 600 units in 19 countries, the press is ideal for printers operating in a more 'commercial' environment with demands for longer running hours, more product variety and the need to reduce maintenance time to a minimum."

Newbury Weekly News Group publishes many titles, including the award-winning newspaper Newbury Weekly News, free weekly newspaper The Advertiser, monthly Newbury Business Today and Out & About magazine, along with other supplements and special publications produced throughout the year. The company also prints more than 30 separate contract titles.