The Neue Zürcher Zeitung in Zürich, Switzerland, is modernizing and extending its newspaper printing facility at Schlieren.

The excavation for a new press hall, which is an extension to the existing building, has already begun.

The extension will provide room for two new WIFAG Evolution 471 presses, which will have about 20 percent more capacity than the existing presses.

Both presses will be installed in one pressline and will consist of 88 printing couples and four folders. Three 48-page and one 32-page newspaper, or one 96-page and one 80-page newspaper can be produced in collect production mode simultaneously.

The project will be completed in September 2004. The two new WIFAG presses, mailroom equipment and the conversion of the existing buildings is expected to improve workflow in addition to an increase in printing capacity.

In addition to the printing facility in Schlieren near Zurich, part of the international edition is produced in Offenbach/Frankfurt and Passau. The WIFAG Evolution 471 for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung is designed for the direct exposure of non-process printing plates in the printing couples.

More than 220 years old, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, is one of the oldest Swiss daily newspapers. It is printed Monday through Saturday and on Sunday, with a circulation of over 169,000 copies.