WAN-IFRA: In your opinion, what are the three major trends in the newspaper industry today?

ERIC BELL: None of these are new and they inter-relate to some degree, but the three principal trends affecting how we do business in the newspaper production industry today might best come under the headings: automation, diversification, distributed print.

In terms of production, newspaper publishers are continuing to focus principally on automation as the key to reducing production costs and general overheads. This is what drives our product development, as we continue to focus on new efficiencies for our existing high-spec systems while rolling out high-tech features across more entry-level products. Product diversification comes into the mix as customers continue to strive for new revenue streams and a better USP. In many instances, automation in itself facilitates more diversification opportunities, in freeing up production capacity and enabling shorter run, more targeted copies, and it can also be essential in the interface with additional and new processes such as web drying, inkjetting etc. Distributed print is arguably our biggest challenge as a machinery supplier, as more publishers find efficiencies in transferring print production to remote printers and supersites. But our signature Goss flexibility and adaptability allow us to meet that challenge head-on with relevant technologies, services and expertise that continue to provide customers with an edge.

WAN-IFRA:  What products and services will Goss focus on at this year's IFRA Expo?

ERIC BELL:  We’ll be focusing on further system solutions to the trends mentioned above through applied technologies that allow printers to custom design their production model to achieve the most effective, flexible, lean and intelligent print offering. More info to follow later.

WAN-IFRA:  One year after the change of ownership, how did Goss' business focus and key markets shift?

ERIC BELL:  There has been no shift in focus resulting from the change of ownership – our core business principles and objectives remain the same, but we now have the financial backing of an industrial powerhouse with a long-term vested interest in print. Key markets are largely as last year, shifting only with market dynamics and the broader economic repercussions of the global downturn. Asia has continued to be strong for us

WAN-IFRA:  Goss has been increasingly successful in the Asian market lately. Comparing the requirements of newspapers in North America and Asia, what are the main differences?

ERIC BELL:  In terms of new press orders the differences currently are not so great as you might imagine. On the whole, Asian customers in the last couple of years have been looking for speed and capacity increases with less emphasis on automation, but this too is now changing as rising prices also affect Asia and the benefits of waste reduction become clear. Goss products are meeting needs through their value for money and the relative high sophistication of the technology at every level. In North America, the medium-to-large publishers are generally confining investment to enhancements, upgrades and opportunities for incremental capacity and efficiency improvements, while among the smaller newspapers, there continues to be interest in systems that can provide a significant boost in production capabilities.

WAN-IFRA: How does the semi-commercial business develop in North America and Asia?
ERIC BELL:  Investment in North America is currently slow but specification for web drying and UV curing is being seen in some cases. North American newspapers are entering into commercial printing in a way that is somewhat different from taking in traditional commercial jobs: they are subcontracting to print other newspapers that have chosen not to upgrade their print capabilities. This is creating a profit-centre environment at many newspapers, both those that contract out and those that contract in requiring added capacity and more colour at the newspaper taking the contract. In addition, the whole experience of operating as a profit centre is being followed by the natural question, "What else can we print?" This more dynamic approach has newspaper printing operations looking to find way of broadening their capabilities.

In Asia the picture varies vastly from country to country with Indonesia currently one of the top adopters.

WAN-IFRA:  Is green production a topic for newspapers when it comes to select new production equipment? Do ecology and sustainability count as much as cost effectiveness?

ERIC BELL:  Green production is certainly an important topic for newspapers. Environmental considerations are part of every enquiry today and come into most aspects of equipment specification. On balance, however, cost-effectiveness is a more urgent requirement for most print organisations. Happily, we find with our press systems that the two objectives often come together – the cost-effective production solution is also usually more environmentally sustainable because it involves less waste, less energy, more efficiency. Suppliers and manufacturers today are very focused on enabling the two requirements to coincide.

WAN-IFRA:  Last year Goss introduced the new high-speed 2x1 Universal press model. How is the acceptance by the newspaper market? Are there first users to be announced?

ERIC BELL:  Market interest for this product is coming principally from Asia at the moment, where there is clear demand for higher speed productivity from a single-width platform. However, we’re not in a position to disclose first users yet.

WAN-IFRA:  Adding semi-commercial jobs, how do the more complex production processes effect the requirements of integrated control at newspaper printing plants?

ERIC BELL:  Today’s complex production processes make a fully integrated control system essential for maximising efficiency and profitability. Changing formats, substrates, inks, etc., involves changing settings throughout the press line and a sophisticated integrated controls system can enable these settings to adjust automatically as the prepress data is submitted.

The 90,000-per-hour FPS press at Print Innovators, publisher of the 125-year-old family owned Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, Virginia (USA) has four towers, including one equipped with a heatset dryer. Two folders – including one with quarter-fold capability – a versatile angle bar configuration and a 72-inch (1829 mm) web width combine to allow expansive product versatility. The configuration can produce newspaper products with up to 96 broadsheet pages, or two 36-inch (914 mm) ribbons from each web, which are ideal for standard magazine- or tabloid-size commercial products in the United States.

With Goss International representing Ferag in North America, the concept of a single vendor for the press and postpress components as well as the controls had a strong appeal for Print Innovators. The press is served by automated and fully integrated subsystems, including reel handling and plate delivery. Ferag gripper conveyors carry products directly to and from a dual-delivery Goss Magnapak inserter or Ferag buffering and stacking components. A polywrapper and a trimmer provide additional options, and Goss Omnizone supervisory controls manage the postpress operation.

A Goss open-architecture Omniview MIS system communicates with and ties together components and functions throughout the process, from material management and order processing to prepress and production.