Since completion last year of the installation of the first triple-wide Goss Uniliner Press in the U.S. at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PG), the newspaper is well on its way to achieving key business and performance goals it established at the project’s outset – namely increased advertiser activity and reader response. “The printed edition looks fabulous, with brilliant colour on every page. Every nuance of the artwork is brought out,” said Lisa Hurm, Director of Operations, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We’ve had really great customer feedback in this respect and our advertisers have been more than happy with the opportunities now available to them.”
The press has specifically improved the newspaper’s classified sections, obituaries and comics, and there are encouraging signs in other areas too. “We used to outsource our TV guides, as well as sections, wraps and jackets – but these have all come in-house now. Once we felt fully confident of this quality of work, we started doing some commercial work for outside parties. These were mostly brochures on thicker, bright white paper for some local conventions as well as for car dealers,” Hurm added.
The Uniliner press line comprises four, four-high printing towers with a 21-inch cut-off, four reel stands and a double-couple J2:5:5 jaw folder. Reel stands are positioned in the ‘T90’ configuration (at right angles to the press line, providing easy access for the press crew). The printing units are capable of up to 80,000 full-colour copies per hour in straight production (48 broadsheet pages) or 40,000 copies per hour for collect production (96 pages of full colour). These output speeds are enhanced by make-ready advantages including motorized pre-set ink keys, spray-bar dampening, register system, automated folder settings and shaftless press drives.
A wide range of equipment specs also increased production options. PG specified a maximum web width of 66 inches, equivalent to six pages across of 11 inches per page. Added to this, the company chose to include a secondary web width of 30 inches for running 15-inch tabloids. This format runs to the lower former assembly of the jaw folder, which is equipped for up to four webs or 12 ribbons. In addition, the jaw folder includes a balloon-former assembly that is also equipped for up to 12 ribbons and with a centre former capable of running both 11-inch and 15-inch pages. The folder features a single push-button fold changeover for switching between straight and collect production.
Mike D’Angelo, Managing Director of Goss Americas, believes the state-of-the-art installation is ideal for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in terms of both current production requirements and long-term aspirations. “PG epitomizes a 21st-century newspaper at the top of its game, encompassing both modern news journalism and traditional interests and preferences. It addresses the new world of digital and mobile connectivity while maintaining a thriving community of readers and contributors – with print very much at the heart of things. The flexibility of this Uniliner configuration means that PG can continue to innovate and adapt according to advertiser demand, while its proven print quality and productivity will ensure ongoing high standards that will maintain the printed edition at the pinnacle of the PG brand offering,” he added.
With a renowned history dating back to 1786, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has been reflecting and leading thought in Pennsylvania for over 200 years. Since first publishing the Constitution of the United States in 1787, the paper has provided daily updates on local, national and world events. Today, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is Western Pennsylvania’s largest newspaper with a daily printed circulation of about 140,000 – rising to more than 270,000 copies on Sunday.
