The Union-News in Springfield, Mass., last month changed its name to The Republican as the daily’s publisher formally commissioned its MAN Roland Inc. press.

The 40-couple RegioMAN is a 4-by-1 shaftless press the newspaper’s parent, Advance Publications, agreed to purchase two years ago to print the 88,000-circulation Union-News and a sister paper, the 135,000-circulation Sunday Republican.

The press replaced 34-year-old Hoe Colormatic dilitho presses. The new system will let the paper print color on almost every page and will double print capacity.

According to MAN Roland, The Republican’s press was built in a five-tower configuration, equipped with web spreaders for various ribbon widths. The 21-inch cutoff press was installed as a single pressline, boasting 2:3:3 jaw folders capable of handling 80-page products.

The newspaper said it changed its name for business reasons. The Union-News banner was created in the mid-'80s when morning and afternoon publications merged. The Sunday Republican banner will remain unchanged.