February 16, 2004 -- Waterless newspaper offset has now spread to Belgium, where media player De Persgroep in Asse, near Brussels, has just become the third print enterprise to sign up for a KBA Cortina after Rodi Rotatiedruk in Broek op Langedijk (Netherlands), and Freiburger Druck (Germany). ”We’ve been keeping a weather eye on the Cortina ever since the prototype was shown at Drupa 2000, and we believe it has now achieved market maturity,” says De Persgroep technical manager John Peirlinckx. His designated successor, Jan Moens, agrees. ”We are planning to replace our press fleet and decided to kick off with a 48-page Cortina because it will give us the fire-power and quality to bring coldset semi-commercial production in-house. On top of this, the drop in waste and manning levels should deliver substantial bottom-line benefits. KBA carried out a detailed comparative cost analysis based on our specific requirements and provided first-class support throughout the project.” The Cortina will comprise three four-high towers, Pastomat RC reelstands and turner bar decks, a folder superstructure with two formers, a KF 5 jaw folder and a section stitcher. Plate changing, ink pumping and blanket washing will all be automatic. The double-width floor-mounted press will have a 520mm (20½”) cut-off, a maximum web width of 1,460mm (57½”) and a maximum rated output of 80,000cph. It will be installed in early 2005 in an extension to De Persgroep’s existing site in Asse, replacing the oldest of four MAN presses. It will print two of the group’s newspaper titles (Het Laatste Nieuws, with a total circulation of around 350,000 copies, and DeMorgen with 75,000 copies) plus various tabloid inserts, some of which are currently outsourced. De Persgroep’s activities span newspapers, magazines, television, radio and the internet.