Little more than a year after opting to replace its 1980s press with single-width, the Dallas Morning News is in production at a smaller site that promises to make the paper profitable again.

The US$8 million (A$12.27 million) re-equipment, and accompanying move from Plano, Texas, to Carrollton, is estimated to save US$5 million a year, requiring 85 fewer staff.

The 12-tower Goss Community installed by ImPressions Worldwide Press includes two N40 folders and 18 Megtec splicers in two lines, and includes automation systems from Perretta, Technotrans, MasterFlo, US Automation, and DCOS Automation.

The six-tower ‘A-Press’ has been producing live copies since mid-February, with the ‘B-Press’ – christened in May – now bringing the system to full capacity, equivalent to 50,000 cph from the two folders. Each press can run up to 36 broadsheet pages in one or two sections.

IW’s Tom Loesch paid tribute to the dedication, expertise and professionalism of the Dallas Morning News team. “Their vision, collaboration, and commitment were instrumental in driving the project across the finish line,” he said.

At the time of the announcement, DallasNews Corp president Katy Murray said the annual savings would “help DallasNews become profitable again”.

She pledged to continue to print seven days a week, while acknowledging that many newspapers across the country no longer do so.

“Reading the printed newspaper is a daily habit for our readers, and we want to continue to give them what they want.”

The 6,220 m2 leased building in Carrollton replaces that in Plano, opened in the early 1980s and expanded in 1992.

Pictured: The two six-tower Community lines are now fully-operational; and (below) the 1980s double-width Goss