Portugal’s largest newspaper print site has standardised press automation across the latest of its three Goss lines, cutting wastage by 30 per cent in the process.
A newly-installed Goss Universal XL press at Empresa Gráfica Funchalense in Pêro Pinheiro, Portugal, has been equipped with QI Press Controls mrc-3D register technology, following a pattern which has evolved over 17 years.
Based in Sintra, near Lisbon, EGF is the largest newspaper printing facility in Portugal and produces the southern editions of all national daily newspapers as well as the full editions of the main weekly newspapers.
The Universal XL of four towers and one folder, and has been fitted with 12 mRC-3D cameras for colour and cut-off register, with a GOS operator console, following a pattern which began in 2008 when QIPC’s original IRS register systems was installed on two Goss Universal 70s. Both are still in active operation, although their automation technology has been updated since, and is already at the same level.
Chief executive Hernani Almeida speaks of the experience with the system and long-term relationship through Diogo Alves de Sousa who heads local QIPC agent, PrintControl: “We had no doubt about the value of this investment. The system cuts waste by approximately 30 per cent, due to a reduction in manual operator input.”
The technology also helps address the challenges associates with shorter run lengths and difficulty in finding experienced printers. Almeida is also expecting “one of the fastest returns on investment”, primarily due to consistent output and reduced paper waste.
“It is impossible to imagine our production process without a tool like this to support the performance of our press operators.”
Pictured (top left) Diogo Alves de Sousa and Hernani Almeida at the console of the press; and (below) an mRC-3D camera on the Goss Universal XL press