NEW ORLEANS — The new Uniliner press was the focus of the Goss Graphic Systems booth at Nexpo this year.

Goss announced that it will install its latest double-width press at the Butler (Pa.) Eagle, the first U.S. newspaper to order the shaftless Uniliner. According to Goss, the press offers the capability of a double-width press, but with the flexibility of a single-width press, including, fast changeover, and the ability to print commercial work.

The Eagle’s press will allow the newspaper to print 32 pages of full color and 16 pages of spot color. When it is not being used to print the Eagle (daily, 28,766; Sunday, 30,456), the press can be split into three smaller presses — one for smaller newspapers and two for commercial work. The press will have a 21-inch cutoff, a 50-inch web width and three Goss J233 jaw folders.

Eagle owner Vernon Wise said he chose the Uniliner based on the press’ flexibility, print quality, and Goss’ willingness to work with The Eagle on its specific needs. The press will be housed in a new 75,000-square-foot print facility the newspaper is constructing. Press installation is slated to begin in spring 2002.

Wise also said that a heatset dryer will be added to the new press so it can be used for commercial work.

The Uniliner is a melding of Goss’ single-width Universal series and the company’s double-width technology. The 70,000-copies-per-hour press features configurations up to four-high, jaw folders, Goss controls and integrated tension controls. Goss plans to launch a single-width version of the Uniliner later this year.

China orders

Goss also used Nexpo to announce a plethora of sales in China.

The Dazhong Daily in Shangdong ordered a shaftless Universal 70 press, the first order of that model in mainland China. In addition to its own newspaper, the Dazhong Daily prints 30 other newspaper titles with a total production of 3 million copies daily. The press will be a 28-unit Universal with two folders and will also be used for commercial work.

The Economic Daily ordered a new Universal 45 press, the second Universal the newspaper has ordered. The new press will be a 16-unit press used primarily for printing inserts. It is expected to be installed late this year.

The Hangzhou Daily in Zhejiang is also installing a new Universal 70, the third purchased by the newspaper. Hangzhou Daily, which prints a total of seven daily newspapers, will install a 12-unit press with one folder and heatset capabilities.

Finally, the Tianjin WanBao is adding a 24-unit Universal 70 with three folders to help address its increasing circulation. The newspaper prints 20 additional titles with a combined circulation of more than 2 million. The newspaper also owns three Universal 45 presses.