WOODRIDGE, IL - Tensor Group, Inc. will ship three web offset four color press towers this month to La Societe Cherbourgeoise d'Editions, publisher of La Presse de la Manche (daily) of Cherbourg, France. The well-equipped Tensor T-400 4-high towers will replace two existing Solna 2+1 units, expanding the original press by delivering an additional 12 full-color broadsheet pages. The overnight newspaper run will produce 30,000-36,000 copies per day of the 32 page broadsheet, with 20 of those pages in four color (up from eight). The day shift will run a 64 page tabloid with 40 pages in color.

The tower purchase coincides with La Presse de la Manche's recent 120th anniversary celebration. "Expanding our newspaper production facility with the new Tensor equipment is very appropriate as we reach this impressive milestone in our company's history," stated Mr. Marcel Clairet, President Directeur General, La Presse de la Manche. "La Presse de la Manche will become even more popular with our readers with the improved look."

The Tensor T-400 press towers are beautifully equipped with DCOS press controls which integrates and manages the DRCS closed loop register and cutoff, GMI remote inking system, Inventor Graphics spray dampening and footprint shaftless drive motors. Tensor is also managing the upgrade retrofit of these auxiliaries onto one existing Solna G150 tower that will tie into the pressline. Three Megtec Amal AR 30 pasters will be added at right angle to the press.

Mr. Herve Pannier, Directeur des Services Techniques, La Presse de la Manche, remarked, "We visited two impressive Tensor installations in Denmark and met with knowledgeable Tensor staff and DCOS engineers that were very open to assessing our specific situation and developing a best-choice solution. It became clear that Tensor was the right choice for us for this current upgrade and planned future additions to expand our newspaper."

La Presse de la Manche daily is a branch of "Groupe SIPA Ouest-France", a multi-media company with 5 daily and 60 weekly titles, averaging distribution of 1.1 million copies per day. In addition, Ouest-France's various branches print a large number of weekly free news tabloids.