Italian wide-web pioneer Grafiche Mazzucchelli has hosted a delegation of senior managers and technical directors from among Germany's foremost high-volume print providers keen to learn more about the Goss Sunday 5000 press. The event, at the end of September, provided the opportunity to witness the world's widest web offset press in action, through makeready, press start-up and live job production.

Situated in a new press hall in Seriate, near Bergamo, Italy, the 2860 mm-wide gapless Goss Sunday 5000 press at Grafiche Mazzucchelli prints at speeds up to 13 meters per second (80,000 copies per hour). The press system features a range of enhanced efficiency technologies including Goss Autoplate fully automatic plate-changing, Goss DigiRail digital inking and automated blanket washing, web-up and reel handling. A PCC-2 pinless combination folder, Goss Ecocool dryer and Ecobox energy recovery system also contribute to lower waste and reduced energy consumption.

Mazzucchelli's German guests saw production of a 48-page tabloid insert with quarterfold, printed on 51 gsm stock. According to Frank Einzweiler, Goss International area sales manager, positive comments from the group pronounced the day a big success. "Since our original announcement of the 96-page press development program, there has been some mystique surrounding this press, so it was great to be able to give this group the chance to see it, touch it and learn more about its capabilities as a productivity solution for a changing market. Nobody is in any doubt now that, thanks to gapless technology, the 2860 mm-wide web offset press is a reality, and the web offset industry has entered a new phase."