January 19, 2004 -- Augsburg is pointing the way to the future: The Mediengruppe Pressedruck which produces the “Augsburger Allgemeine” newspaper is to renew its battery of rotary presses over the next few years. This ambitious project has a middle double-digit million euros price tag and is to be realised with MAN Roland as general contractor. The contract was concluded shortly before the end of 2003. In the next few years MAN Roland will take full responsibility for restructuring the publishing company’s complete newspaper production. Exchanging the production lines is a highly complex project which needs to be done in stages to ensure it is successful. The first deliveries are to be made early in 2005 and the last items are scheduled for startup late in 2006. COLORMAN in XXL Format for More Economical Production The Mediengruppe Pressedruck decision-makers are so convinced about MAN Roland’s COLORMAN technology that production will in future be totally centred around a COLORMAN pressline. This will consist of five of the latest COLORMAN 24-page machines in XXL format with six plates wide which corresponds to a web width of 2.10 metres. Compared to a conventional 4/2 machine running at the same speed, an XXL line provides much greater capacity. A specially developed turner bar nest and folder superstructure with three formers side by side brings high flexibility. With a maximum speed of 90,000 copies per hour in double production, the short web leads of the nine-cylinder satellite printing unit concept assures the highest print quality. And since the COLORMAN in XXL format has around one third fewer mechanical components, potential cost savings are enormous. Fully Equipped with the PPL Plate Changing System Four of the new machines for Mediengruppe Pressedruck in Augsburg all have two reel splicers, two 8-couple towers with nine-cylinder satellite printing units, and one folder. These XXL format machines are thus all designed for a production capacity of 48 pages. The fifth machine is a 24-page press with one reel splicer, one 8-couple tower, and one folder. And so the entire pressline is made up of nine reel splicers, nine 8-couple towers, and five folders. The new production system for Mediengruppe Pressedruck features state-of-the-art components in the machines and in the peripheral equipment as well. All plate cylinders of the satellite printing units are to be equipped with PPL, MAN Roland’s semi-automatic and extremely reliable plate changing system. The reel splicers are also latest generation – the CD Paster 15 XXL for reel diameters up to 1,500 mm.