KBA Comet blasts off in Tasmania

Installation of KBA Comet press powers up Tasmania’s first edition of The Australian newspaper.

The national broadsheet has previously been printed in Melbourne and shipped to Tasmania; however, production has now been moved to News Limited’s new $32 million printing plant at Technopark, north of Hobart, resulting in the first ever local printing of The Australian this week.

According to The Australian’s editor, Paul Whittaker, printing the paper closer to home means on-time delivery and easier access for local readers. "This is an exciting moment in the history of The Australian and Tasmania and underscores the newspaper's long-term commitment to the state, where we have flown in newspapers ever since The Australian's inception in 1964,” he said.

The Australian’s weekend counterpart, The Weekend Australian, is expected to be printed at the Hobart plant from 5 September this year.

The KBA press has been running at the Hobart facility since mid-year. News Limited purchased also purchased a single-wide KBA Comet press for The Mercury in late 2007.