Denver, Colorado — The Denver Newspaper Agency (DNA) has ordered five new MAN Roland GEOMAN presses to replace ten Goss systems, which currently print Colorado's two largest dailies — The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News. The press installation, which is the key element in the consolidation of two DNA plants into one, is scheduled to be completed in 25 months and will include integration of a MAN Roland AUROSYS automated reel handling system. In addition to providing the technology, MAN Roland is also managing all major aspects of the project including the removal of the old presses, management and crew training, and installation of a printnet networking and automation system that will streamline DNA's entire production workflow. “DNA completed extensive due diligence before selecting our press provider,” says Frank Dixon, Senior Vice President of Operations at the newspaper publisher. “We chose MAN Roland because we need the best technology along with project management expertise that will fast track the consolidation of our two printing facilities, while providing presses that will cost effectively serve us for decades to come.” Under the consolidated production plan, the Denver Post's printing plant, which has been in operation since 1986, will be phased out. The Rocky Mountain News' plant, which opened in 1992, will become the sole production hub by the end of 2007. Parts of both newspapers have been printed from both facilities since the joint operating agreement was formed in January 2001. Under that agreement, the Denver Newspaper Agency provides all printing, distribution, advertising and marketing and business services for the two newspapers, which remain editorially separate and competitive. The Denver Post, a MediaNews property, is printed as a broadsheet, while the Rocky Mountain News, owned by The E. W. Scripps Company, is a tabloid. The variable web width capabilities of DNA's new GEOMAN presses allow rapid changeover between the two sizes. “The format variables, the accelerated timeframe and the fact that this will become one of the most highly automated newspaper production facilities in North America make this installation highly complex,” says Vincent Lapinski, COO of Web Operations for MAN Roland Inc. “At MAN Roland, we're very confident in our abilities to handle these unique challenges and look forward to partnering with the Denver Newspaper Agency.”