A substantial press extension at Beijing Daily Group will add flexibility and capacity to a five year-old KBA Comet there.

The Chinese publishing house will add two four-high towers and two folders in the first half of 2016, in a delivery package which also includes adjusting the production capabilities of the existing Comet and a new mailroom system for the entire plant

KBA says the order followed an intensive selection process. The investment boosts the media group's production flexibility and efficiency with in-house and third-party products while at the same time lightening the workload of an older press from another manufacturer.

Printing house director of Beijing Daily Group Cui Tang Lian says the effects of the media shift are clearly noticeable even in China: "We continue to rely on the printed newspaper in a high quality, nevertheless we have to set up our printing house in such a way as to enable us to produce frequently changing print products in terms of scope and design quickly, flexibly and efficiently.

"Short makeready times, high production speeds, low waste levels and a reliable service partnership on-site were the decisive factors for the necessary expansion project. We are continuing the successful collaboration with KBA given the Comet's good performance and first-class service support received.

"We will be well prepared for the future with our five-tower press line equipped with three folders."

Together with a large number of magazines, Beijing Daily Group publishes daily newspapers with a combined daily circulation of almost two million copies in the Beijing metropolitan area. In addition to the Beijing Morning Post, Beijing Suburbs Daily, Beijing Business Today and Beijing Social News, the media group owns highly traditional and popular titles, such as the Beijing Evening News and the Beijing Daily, established in 1958 and 1952 respectively.

The printing house is also continuing to expand its involvement in electronic media.

The Comet press line handles web widths from 635-880mm, has a cylinder circumference of 1092mm and a maximum rated output in straight production of 78,000cph. The extended press will comprise five printing towers and three KF 3 jaw folders. KBA consoles feature ink-key presetting software and a RIP interface.

Pictured signing the contract in Beijing (seated, from left) Song Xu (manager of China National Publishing Industry Trading Corporation), Cui Tang Lian (printing house director), Andreas Friedrich (KBA general manager web sales and service for North/ East Asia); standing: Jiang Dawei (manager of China National Publishing Industry Trading Corporation), Wang Xiao Liang (director of the technical department at Beijing Daily Group), Yuan Junhua (senior manager of the technical department at Beijing Daily Group), Feng Lijie (manager of the business department at Beijing Daily Group), Wang Jianguo (press room manager at Beijing Daily printing house), and Han Shao Sheng (KBA China general manager for web sales).