Graphic’s technological evolution
The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) has, since its inception in October, 1950, made giant strides in its technological transitions and advancement.
It is reputed to be a dynamic newspaper printing and publishing house with the drive of introducing modern and state-of-the art technology in the industry.
From its humble beginnings using the letterpress (linotype and monotype) type-setting in the printing and publishing business, it opened a new chapter in the printing and publishing industry as it became the first commercial newspaper printing company in the country to employ the use of Web Offset Press in 1976. It was known as Harris 845 Web Offset Press.
What was striking with the introduction of the new technology was colour printing. The company acquired a two-line press made up of a four-unit press with a folder and drier. In addition, it also installed a two-unit press with a folder but without a drier.
The beauty of the GCGL acquisition, as well as asset and comparative advantage over the company’s competitors, was that it had a mechanism of engaging all six print units if the need arose.
Over time, the manufacturers failed to provide the company with the requisite after-sales service in terms of spare parts, as well as technical and engineering support for the semi-automated Web Offset Press which was manufactured in the United States.
As a result, the company had no option but to resort to cannibalisation to remain in operation, which eventually compromised the efficiency and effectiveness of the press.
Heidelberg Harris N845
That led to the company investing in an upgraded version of the Web Offset colour press Heidelberg-Harris N845 Web Offset Press which was inaugurated in September 1995.
The new machine had the same capacity of printing 50,000 copies per hour, just like the one acquired in 1976. However, the striking difference in terms of technology was that, while the old press was more automated, the new press was more user-friendly.
With time, the printing machine became obsolete, as it had limitations in respect of colour pagination. It became obvious that demand for colour adverts far outstripped the company’s capacity, hence, the decision to invest in another print technology to meet the growing demand of advertisers.
KBA Comet Press
Consequently, the GCGL, in 2011, decided to acquire a 10-million Euro modern printing press with a renewed determination to capture the printing industry in West Africa and establish itself as the preferred publishing company.
The inauguration of the new press on October 31 2012 made the GCGL the third company in Africa to use the KBA COMET Press, after South Africa and Kenya, thereby placing it at the forefront of Ghana’s print media industry.
The new press also reaffirms the GCGL’s position as the pacesetter on Ghana’s print media landscape and the company is now poised to enter West Africa with its technological advancement and rich experience of 63 years in the printing business.
The new press, with a computer-to-plate (CTP) facility, is a speedster which has the capacity to print 75,000 copies of any newspaper per hour in various formats. It also has the capacity to print 64 pages, with half of the pages in full colour, and the flexibility to print colour on any page of the customer’s choice.
The new press has the capabilities as stated below:
It can print 75,000 copies per hour; print 64 pages with half of the pages in full colour; the flexibility for printing colour on any page of the customer’s choice and can also print colour adverts in small sizes, unlike the previous machines
The facility has a 1,100 kba standby generator, an air compressor and a central air-conditioning system to maintain the temperature required for the machine to work efficiently. These are support equipment to ensure that the press works effectively everyday.
Close to the printing hall is the paper-conditioning room from where an electric forklift sends the reels to the printing hall for mounting on the splicer. Attached to the hall is a bulk materials warehouse for newsprint, ink and chemicals. The facility also has a big loading bay.
Housing
The printing machine is housed in a spacious printing room in anticipation of future expansion. The press is intended to print magazines and books, which requires certain attachments. For books, the company will attach a quarter fold and a mailroom separate from the existing mailroom. For glossy magazines, the GCGL will attach a dryer, an inline stitcher and a three-knife trimmer. Also, when the capacity of the machine is exhausted, the GCGL will install another production line in the same room.
For the GCGL, the major technological evolution in the newspaper industry worldwide in the early ’80s, which began in Britain and was known as the Dismantling of the Fleet Street, influenced our technological transition.
The transition has been from the letterpress through camera to computer-to-film and now computer-to-plate. This has virtually eliminated human intervention in the imaging processes, thereby ensuring improved quality of print products.
By Albert Sam