Morris Publishing purchased a single-wide Uniset 75 press from MAN Roland Inc. to produce its Bluffton (S.C.) Today and selected commercial products.

The machine, expected to go into production in December 2007, will be placed in Morris’ 2-year-old production plant now used to print Today, the Savannah (Ga.) Morning News and other products, said Sean Ruth, production director. The Morning News will continue to be printed on Morris’ existing Goss Metro press.

The Uniset will enable Morris to provide color on every page of Today, a 16,500-circulation free tabloid Morris founded in 2005, Ruth said.

The 3-tower Uniset, sporting a 21-inch cutoff and 48-inch web width, will be equipped with CGI digital inkers, technotrans spraybars and MAN Roland controls, Ruth said. The folder will have a stitch head for commercial applications.
 

Boost color, print

Ruth said the press will enable Morris to substantially increase its color capability and print quality. “We’ll be able to print 4-color on every page” of Today, he said. “We’ll also focus the press on our niche and commercial work.”

In addition to Today and certain products for the Morning News, the press will be used to produce Coastal Antiques and Art magazine, Coastal Senior magazine, Effingham (Ga.) Now, Hardeeville (S.C.) Today, Hilton Head (S.C.) Today and the Jasper County (S.C.) Sun.

Ruth said Morris isn’t planning any other imminent upgrades at the Savannah plant, which opened in 2004. The publisher converted to computer-to-plate when the plant opened, installing two thermal CTP systems from Kodak.

“We are expanding our commitment to the greater Savannah area and the South Carolina Low Country with this investment,” William S. Morris IV, president and chief executive officer of Morris Publishing, said in announcing the purchase. “The new press will produce higher quality color, improve efficiency and give the newspaper more printing flexibility.”

Vince Lapinksi, MAN Roland’s chief operating officer, said Morris’ project “will not only update their press equipment, but will provide the latest technology, automation and increased color capabilities.”