March 29th, 2005 – A new 30-station Goss Magnapak inserting system went into production in late 2004 at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Packaging Manager Norm Loraine says the installation was smooth, the learning curve has been short, and the system is rapidly enhancing productivity and zoning capabilities. "We did extensive research and we are quite pleased with the Magnapak," according to Loraine. He lists high capacity, simplified hopper set-up, automated zoning and servo-drive technology as the most important features of the new system. The Post-Dispatch is currently using the new Magnapak system for highly-zoned Sunday products and non-subscriber distribution packages. "With the Goss dual-delivery option, we have the flexibility advantage of running the Sunday and non-subscriber packages simultaneously on each side of the machine, or we can run either one of those products simultaneously with the daily product," Loraine says. The Post-Dispatch is utilizing the capacity and servo-drive technology of the Magnapak inserter to achieve more sophisticated zoning in combination with higher net throughput. "We can put more combinations of preprints in different positions and, when we do have to switch out and set up an individual hopper, we can do it while the rest of the machine is running," Loraine explains. Loraine says the Post-Dispatch handled an average of over 20 million preprints per week in 2004, a 20-percent increase over 2002, and the demand for more precise zoning is also increasing. Last year the Post-Dispatch produced close to 37,000 different preprint zoning combinations, and plans call for micro zoning in the near future. Goss is currently installing a common reporting control capability to link the new Magnapak with four existing Heidelberg inserters at the Post-Dispatch. "Goss'' proven ability to work with other vendors to tie our entire system together was a key factor in our decision," Loraine says. "Our previous experience with Goss was important because we''ve had success with Heidelberg and Goss machines in the past. This experience combined with open communication is central to the important partnership we have developed with them."