Sandhills Publishing, headquartered in Lincoln (NE), USA, has decided to re-invest with Goss International to double production output and extend efficiencies at its new high-performance print and bindery facility. A Goss Sunday 2000 press and Pacesetter 2200 saddlestitcher will enable Sandhills to fulfil a greater proportion of its print requirements more cost-effectively and sustainably through the company’s own rigorous in-house processes.

The eight-unit, two web, 16-page Goss Sunday 2000 press scheduled for delivery in May 2016 is almost identical to one installed in 2007 and, like its counterpart, will be configured in a stacked layout for operational ease. The press line will include a Goss Contiweb FD splicer and an Ecocool dryer with integrated pollution control. Sporting a new 22¼-inch (545 mm) cut-off, the new press will further enhance paper savings delivered through the extended printable area of gapless blankets and pinless folders.

These efficiency features were a key requirement for Sandhills Publishing as the company has a policy of advanced environmental responsibility. Its commitment to this purpose has resulted in a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold rating for its Data Center, which houses Sandhills’ servers and was constructed largely from recycled and reclaimed materials.

According to Chris Lee, Sandhills purchasing manager, the overall “comfort level” of press operators with the equipment was equally significant. “Our pressmen know this technology inside out, not only how to get the very best print quality and productivity out of it on a daily basis but also through handling all the routine maintenance and servicing in-house. This familiarity will ensure the most efficient and seamless start-up with the new capabilities.”

The level of expertise and familiarity with Goss technology among the Sandhills press crews is evidenced through daily performance statistics. The facility prints 24/7, five days a week, producing an average of 912,000 magazines per week on the existing Sunday 2000 press. Average makeready waste stands at six percent and the average lifespan of each gapless blanket is more than 60 million impressions.

Sandhills has also been impressed with performance from its existing Goss Pacesetter 1600 stitcher, resulting in the decision to install another Pacesetter saddlestitcher. Scheduled for delivery in March 2016, the new Pacesetter 2200 is capable of delivering up to 22,000 stitched books per hour. It also allows on-the-fly hopper adjustments and offers advanced selective binding and inkjet personalization. “There’s no point installing the best press technology and not matching the capability at output,” states Lee.

“This installation will be part of a truly state-of-the-art operation,” comments Goss director of commercial sales, Tim van Driessche. “Sandhills Publishing has established an outstanding business model, which continues to go from strength to strength. The excellence of its production capabilities is fundamental to this success, supported by a policy of ongoing reinvestment in the company and its team members. I expect the integration of the new equipment and the changeover to double the production capacity will be almost seamless.”

Founded in 1978, Sandhills Publishing serves the trucking, agriculture, construction, heavy machinery, aviation, and technology industries with a diverse range of products and services from well-established trade publications and websites to hosted technology services. The company publishes around twenty different titles in a variety of localized editions, distributed principally in North and Latin America.

Built in 2011, Sandhills’ LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold-rated Data Center utilizes a closed-loop geothermal heating and cooling system, solar power, and motion sensor technologies that improve water and energy efficiencies.

"LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality." —U.S. Green Building Council.