Pittsburgh Post-Gazette gains new
momentum through GOSS Uniliner in one year
Since the adoption of the first triple-wide GOSS Uniliner in the US last year, Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette is on its way to achieving key business and performance. Let’s find out how the
increased advertising activity as well as readers’ response is received through the investment
in new production capabilities and wide-scale redesign.
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According to Lisa Hurm,
director of operations
with the Pittsburgh Post-
Gazette, it has been hard not
to be thrilled. “The printed
edition looks fabulous, with
brilliant colour on every page;
every nuance of the artwork is
brought out. 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,” she explains, adding,
“The technical competencies of
the four-tower GOSS Uniliner
have seen a new lease of
life for classified sections,
obituaries and comics.”
“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
a number of car dealers among
others. They have been received
very well.”
First move
Alongside development of its
electronic publication and other
digital functionality of the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette brand, the
decision in 2013 to invest in a new
print production facility reflected
the company’s commitment to
the printed word.
It required an
investment in
technology that
could deliver the very latest
capabilities for value-added
print featuring a high level
of automation, high-speed
and productivity, as well as
flexibility for as yet unknown
demands.
According to Lisa, “Goss had
a very good understanding of
what we needed and, in true
partnership, responded well to
our requirements. The speed
of the press and its quality of
design were crucial.” GOSS
Uniliner comprises four fourhigh
printing towers with a
21-inch (533 mm) cut-off,
four reel stands and a doublecouple
J2:5:5 jaw folders. Reel
stands are positioned in the T90
configuration, that is, at right
angles to the press line, providing
easy access for press crew.
Press competency
For maximum productivity
the printing units are capable
of up to 80,000 full-colour
cph in straight production
(48 broadsheet pages) or 40,000
cph for collect production
(96 pages of full colour). These
output speeds are enhanced by
makeready advantages including
motorised pre-set ink keys, spray
bar dampening, register system,
automated folder settings and
shaftless press drives.
For flexibility, a wide range
of equipment specifications
increase the production options.
P i t t s b u rgh Post-Gazette
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 inch 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, also equipped
for up to 12 ribbons and
with a center former capable
of running both 11-inch and
15-inch pages. For ultimate
versatility in operation,
the folder features a single
push-button fold changeover for
switching between straight and
collect production.
Advertisers' delight
Mike D’Angelo, MD, 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. He
says, “Flexibility of Uniliner means that Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
can continue to innovate and adapt according to advertisers’
demands, while its proven print quality and productivity will
ensure ongoing high standards that will maintain the printed edition
at the pinnacle of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette brand offering.”
Established in 1786, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today is Western
Pennsylvania’s largest newspaper with a daily printed circulation of
around 1,40,000 rising to more than 2,70,000 copies on Sunday.
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