July 31st, 2008 – Newspaper printer and publisher Tryck i Norrbotten has ordered a new footprint shaftless Goss Magnum 4 press to increase its capacity, productivity and speed. The new press will be used to print a brand new newspaper from 2009 at its facility in Luleå, in northeast Sweden and forms part of an overall improvement project for the company which also includes upgrades to paper storage, logistics and postpress equipment.

Erik Ranängen, managing director at Tryck i Norrbotten comments, "We currently produce between three and five newspapers per night but from 2009 we'll have a new newspaper title. Because of the national circulation of the newspapers within Sweden and the distances over which they need to be delivered, we have a very small time window in which to print. The Magnum 4 press will enable us to run at faster speeds and therefore increase our production capacity."

The new Magnum 4 press will run at speeds up to 45,000 iph and will be equipped with eight four-high towers and a 1:3:3 jaw folder with half and quarterfold capability to deliver up to 64 tabloid pages. The press will expand the publisher's existing capacity from 72 pages, with 48 in color, to 64 full-color pages. Goss Omnicon level 3 imposition controls and motorized ink keys will also be included. In addition Tryck i Norrbotten will gain the ability to produce three sections in one run – an improvement on the current two – providing them with the capability to produce the sports section in addition to the main newspaper and TV guide.

According to Ranängen it was Goss Internationals' first-class engineering quality that impressed the team at Tryck i Norrbotten. "The speed and print quality of the Magnum 4 press also won us over," he confirmed. "We expect to see much less waste and greater operational efficiencies once the new press is up and running," he adds.

Speed was a vital factor in the investment. As Ranängen notes, "Faster speeds were imperative when selecting the new press to extend the capacity within our tight production window to accommodate the new publication. We hope that the improved efficiencies will also enhance the company's market position and open up new business opportunities, because we will have the production capacity to accommodate a range of new products."

Press size was also a major consideration for Tryck i Norrbotten. "We couldn't select a larger press because there simply isn't space for it. At 45,000 iph the single-width Magnum 4 press provides the ideal productivity and high quality we require in the space we have available," Ranängen explains.

Tryck i Norrbotten was the winner of the 2006 Swedish 3M award for four-color print, and in the top three in 2007, and Ranängen has high hopes for next year's competition. He comments, "Tryck i Norrbotten is extremely focused on quality. We currently work to a very high standard but we think the Goss Magnum 4 press will help us to improve even further – we have our sights set on winning the competition once again."

The press is scheduled to go into production in 2009.