New Manugraph presses power APN print sites

APN looks to India and finds Manugraph presses for its five greenfield sites.

Yandeena was the first of the sites to open last year (the only site to be fitted with MAN Roland Uniset and Regioman presses instead of Manugraphs) and was followed by Rockhampton and Bundaberg. After opening a new greenfield site in Toowomba three weeks ago, APN is currently in the process of relocating its Lismore plant to Ballina.

Brian Hoods, chief operating officer for APN Print, said that it would be several months before the Ballina plant is officially opened, but he hopes the new location will have more to offer those in the region.

"We decided to move to Ballina because the land was better," he said. "It is a flat site, very close to the main highway and a good place to service northern NSW."

Manugraph presses from India were chosen for each of the five sites. Members of APN travelled to India to evaluate the presses and, after close inspection, they were deemed the best machinery for the plants.

"The pricing was good and we felt as though the modern design of the Manugraph would suit us better in the future," Hoods said.

Since installing the first Manugraph, Hoods reports that APN is satisfied with the performance of the machines. "They've met our expectations and exceeded our business needs; we're very pleased."

In addition to commissioning new sites, APN has also been busy refurbishing and rebuilding its Mackay facility along with ordering a new 8 colour Heidelberg to replace the current 5 colour at its sheetfed business in Warwick.

The revamp and clean up will provide consistency through each of the printing sites, according to Hoods. "The equipment and its age were all different so it was really about supporting the growth of our publishing business with good equipment for key market areas."

A recent article in the Australian Financial Review (1 July 2008) claimed that APN had retrenched 200 people over the past six months due to the installation of these new presses.

Hoods said that this was not the case.

"If you look at it plant by plant we haven't made any of our permanent people redundant and have managed the transitions well," he said.

"The labour savings have been in automation and post press where we have relied on casual people."