December 19th, 2008 – Seeking to improve productivity and extend the competitive life of existing press equipment, printers and publishers worldwide are turning to Goss International's comprehensive Lifetime Support program in growing numbers. Goss International teams responsible for aftermarket services – including the group based at the ISO accredited facility in Preston, UK and who are responsible for many Goss press models throughout Europe and Asia – are reporting an increasing demand.

Goss International's customer services director for the UK, Mike Smith, comments, "We have been very active as a business in 2008 across the whole of our Lifetime Support program, which includes: press servicing, parts, enhancements and training. Press audits are the most popular service, and we have seen a 20 percent increase this year alone."

Press audits form the basis of every press rebuild. The first step in the process is to assess existing print samples for quality. "Once this has been completed, we can then start the process of taking the machine apart to determine the requirement for parts that, if replaced, will ensure the press operates more efficiently than it previously did, with a higher print quality as desired," explains Mike Smith. A comprehensive list of recommended parts for replacement is supplied, from which the customer and the Goss International team can then tailor a rebuild program.

One such newspaper printer who took advantage of a press audit and subsequent rebuild was The Dominion Post, a division of Fairfax New Zealand Limited.

Ricky Baker, plant services manager at The Dominion Post explains, "Since Goss International's press audit and the resulting work that has now been completed, we have seen a dramatic improvement in our efficiency and productivity. Goss International engineers completed the replacement of the eccentric sleeves on our HT70 tower and also converted our T70 units to a four color forward mode to provide additional color capacity. At the same time, the cylinders on the T70 units were set back to Goss specifications without any disruption to our production schedule."

Although it is still early days, Baker says that the web breaks on the press are now significantly lower than before the work was completed. "Our customers have also commented on the marked improvements in quality, and our press crews have increased confidence in starting and stopping the press without losing registration or suffering web breaks," he adds.

But its not just press audits that have been stealing the spotlight in 2008. The supply of new and replacement parts continues to provide essential benefits to printers and publishers. "We stock a wider range of parts than ever before and can ship them immediately to keep presses running regardless of location. Although other suppliers stock Goss parts, we have the widest and most comprehensive inventory available, so that Goss press users need not go anywhere else to get what they require," confirms Smith.

Press enhancements are also popular with customers wishing to take advantage of new advancements in technology to extend press life. Richard Grzelczyk, product manager at Goss International says, "Goss International has an innovative and dedicated product design and development team. As new technology becomes available, it's possible to retrofit existing presses with these new features. Taking advantage of available enhancement packages is an easy and cost-effective way to bring existing press and finishing equipment up to par with the competition."

Smith concludes, "Printers and publishers are keener than ever to get the very best out of their existing presses without having to invest in brand new press equipment. The tailored services we offer across our portfolio of products enable customers to ensure their presses are running at maximum efficiency all year round. As we enter 2009, Lifetime Support Services and the availability of upgrades we offer across the Goss range of presses will continue to play a significant role in the business."

For a full list of activities carried out by the Goss service teams, please visit www.gossinternational.com