State-of-the-Art Offset Press Heralds New Sections, Daily Features and Improved Print Quality
Hearst Corporation announced today that the first issue of the redesigned and enhanced Albany Times Union rolled off the newly installed Commander CL offset press this morning at the newspaper's production facility in Colonie, N.Y.
Today's Times Union showcases a dramatically improved print quality, with enhanced photo and advertisement reproduction. Readers will also see content enhancements, such as an expanded full-color weather package, daily TV listings and colorful comics seven days a week.
"This is a major investment in the future of newspapers, which we believe will continue to serve the American public as far into the future as the eye can see," said Hearst Corporation CEO Frank A. Bennack, Jr. "To be sure, delivery on new digital platforms will be a part of that future, but so too will the high quality print versions many readers prefer. Just as we invest in apps, websites and new digital businesses, we must evolve our core print product in order to give readers and advertisers the highest quality experience across all platforms."
"At a time of great change in the media industry, when other newspapers are reducing production days or closing entirely, we're proud to be able to provide readers and advertisers with one of the best quality newspapers in the country," said Times Union Publisher and CEO George R. Hearst III. "With this new press and redesign, we're re-affirming the Times Union's commitment to the Capital Region, a legacy that stretches back to 1856."
A new stand-alone Perspective section will be published every day with featured local columnists and opinion pieces from the community. The paper's popular health section, Thrive, moves to Wednesdays—making room for a new automotive section on Saturdays. Also new to the Saturday edition: the Solutions section, designed to help readers become savvier consumers, while also saving money. There will also be an expanded weekend business section, as well as enhanced education and health coverage.
"With sharper design and smart additions to our content, the new Times Union offers our readers a greatly improved product," said Rex Smith, vice president and editor of the Times Union.
The new press, which produces up to 160,000 full-color, high-resolution copies an hour, replaces a letterpress machine that had been in operation since the newspaper moved into its current headquarters in August 1970. The new press consumes less energy than its predecessor and its speed and efficiency allows the Times Union to become a commercial printer, taking on additional jobs both locally and outside of the region.
Over 480,000 adults in the Albany/Schenectady/Troy market read the print edition of the Times Union each month, making it the dominant local source for news and information.
Hearst purchased the Commander CL in December 2011 from Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA), the oldest and second largest press manufacturer in the world. It is a 32-page collect-capable press, fitted with contemporary direct-to-plate technology, capable of printing up to 64 pages of full color in a single run. It is outfitted with two folders—one a traditional, fixed-width folder and the other a variable width. They are each rated at 80,000 copies per hour, giving the press the capacity to produce double that number when in full production.
