The four latest Goss Community press sales in Nigeria are scheduled for installation over the coming months, adding to another 44 Goss single-wide (2×1) press units being shipped to the region this year. This takes the total since 2008 to approaching 200 units. Goss Community and Magnum press models have also proved popular throughout the African continent, with over 375 units installed since 2007.
Scheduled for installation over the coming months, the latest four presses are characterised by the requirement for multi-edition versatility.
Each has been specified to handle multiple webs through a single folder to facilitate quick and easy versioning of local editions of titles for wide distribution.
In the case of the Goss Community press to be installed later this year for the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, a number of key benefits are anticipated. The investment is intended not only to bring printing of the state-owned title The Pioneer in-house and enable it to become a daily, but also to win further print contracts from within Akwa Ibom state and beyond.
The 12-unit press with 578-mm cut-off has been specified with half- and quarter-page folding capability to ensure flexibility for such opportunities, as well as six Goss reel-stands providing the capacity to print multiple webs simultaneously.
This investment will jumpstart training for Akwa Ibom people in sophisticated printing technology, as well as serve the local media industry and commercial interest, said Mr Aniekan Umanah, the Akwa Ibom state commissioner for information and communication. It will also ensure a wider reach and an improvement in quality and aesthetics.
In Lagos, the first of two identical Community presses for Vanguard Media Limited, publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, is being installed. Configured as two four-high towers, one two-high tower and four Goss reelstands, the Vanguard press will be able to run up to four webs into a folder with half- and quarter-page format capability. As is the preference in Nigeria, the press has a 578-mm cut-off, and the press for Vanguard will include motorised ink keys for ease-of-use and faster set-up.
Launched in 1984 with the motto Towards a better life for the people, the company’s foremost title, Vanguard, is one of Nigerias oldest and most popular independent newspapers. It covers everything of relevance to the Niger delta region including local news, national news, politics, business, finance, sports, education, health, entertainment and environment. As well the Daily Vanguard, Vanguard Media publishes Saturday and Sunday editions of the main title, as well as a variety of specialist titles such as Sweet Crude, Hitech and Cyber Life.
Vanguard Media is headquartered in Lagos, but has numerous distribution points across Nigeria. The second, identical Goss Community press will be delivered to its facility in Asaba, Delta State later in the year.
Scheduled for delivery in October is a twelve-unit Goss Community press for Vintage Press Limited, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The new press will have three four-high towers, three Goss reelstands and one folder with half- and quarter-page capability.
Publisher of leading national daily The Nation, Vintage Press prides itself on providing well-informed, well-balanced news and analysis for an educated and influential readership. With its focus on business, economy and public policies as well as arts and culture, the Nation achieves high circulations in the Nigerian commercial center of Lagos and the political capital Abuja.
Paul Feeney, Goss International sales manager for Middle-East and Africa said, Vintage, as with the other recent orders for Nigeria, is looking to build its brand reputation and readership by ensuring its print production matches the quality of its editorial. They need solid, reliable and user-friendly press equipment that will keep rolling with minimum intervention to fulfill a commitment and duty to readers. At Goss, our commitment is to help them achieve this, and to continue to support them as their requirements develop.
