Goss Triliner technology is set to initiate a new round of format changes within newspapers through its potential to create better balance between critical demands on today's publishing and contract printing businesses. By enabling a new compact format, without the need to invest in new presses, Triliner technology can reduce production costs and environmental impacts, while increasing production flexibility and throughput.

"A Triliner conversion creates a whole new business model for newspaper production," says John Richards, Goss International director of newspaper product management. "On the one hand, it gives titles the opportunity to create products that are more appealing to new readers, for example commuters and the younger demographic. On the other, it can reduce paper costs while providing increased paging, color and productivity."

In a Triliner conversion, the changes to an existing double-circumference press to achieve the new compact size – two-thirds of the original broadsheet cut-off – are relatively small. The press also retains its ability to run the original larger-format products, with almost immediate changeover between broadsheet and compact products.

Both broadsheet and compact formats continue to be available on the press with minimum changeover using one-around plates, imaged with two or three pages accordingly. "The small investment in a prepress upgrade is more than offset by the increased flexibility and productivity in production. It can potentially deliver earlier finishing times, more time for deliveries, production schedules that can absorb unforeseen delays, and a wider mailroom window," comments Richards.

Triliner benefits
The first major benefit of Triliner technology is the fresh look that accompanies the format change. This is proven to be highly effective in attracting new or lost readers, with the subsequent benefit of also attracting new advertisers and being more competitive against alternative media.

The compact format also has a significant impact on paper costs, saving up to 33 percent when the redesign does not require more pages to be added. When extra pages are required, there is a potential to increase paging and color capacity by up to 50 percent running the press in 'triple' collect mode.

For readers, these benefits are translated into more immediacy of the news through later closing times. For the printer, the added flexibility also brings additional opportunities such as more available press time for contract printing, the possibility to print low-volume jobs on either side of the new narrower print window, and a potentially wider geographical area for contract customers due to more time for delivery.

According to Richards, the development of Triliner technology was driven by clear objectives that would directly impact customers in a positive way. "We wanted to ensure that the existing capabilities and format of the press should be retained, including any existing tab and quarterfold abilities. Secondly, we knew it was important that the changeover between the two formats could be made quickly. And finally, and most importantly, the press conversion had to cost far less than a new press, or even a used press capable of only a single compact format."

For a Triliner press conversion, the main component change involves the plate cylinders. These are retrofitted with cylinders that have a single lock-up to carry 'full-around' plates – either one or two pages wide, according to the customer's production preferences. Other changes may need to be made to the blanket cylinders, and a new lower folding couple is required for the production of either symmetrical or asymmetrical folds. The asymmetrical choice maintains the title's above-the-fold dimensions and its ability to carry inserts as well as its attractiveness on the news shelf or sidewalk dispenser.