The Miami Herald and the Record Searchlight install Muller Martini web reduction kits to reduce newsprint prices while meeting customer demands

In today’s challenging economic times, many printers are looking for innovative after-market solutions that can help them reduce or control their overall operating expenditures.  With paper costs rising due to the closing or consolidating of paper mills, newspapers are facing intolerable increases in the price of newsprint.  That’s why many printers are choosing technology enhancements like web width reduction kits.

Muller Martini’s web width reduction kits work with the SLS series inserting systems.  These fast, reliable systems are noted for their high efficiency and are designed to process a large number of inserts with the most demanding zoning needs.  The web width reduction enhancement enables newspapers to achieve narrower web widths which result in less paper usage.  The full kit includes a moveable pocket wall, a sucker relocation kit and the ability to run a 42” web or 10 1/2” wide product.  The kits are extremely economical as customers make a one-time investment in the enhancement which provides them the ability to modify web widths as production needs change.

Recently, Muller Martini web reduction kits were installed by two leading newspapers, The Miami Herald and California’s Record Searchlight.  Since the Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald, whose Sunday circulation totals more than 300,000, reduced their web width to 44”, they needed to make modifications to the pockets on two SLS1000A 28:2 Inserting Machines.  These modifications allow the Herald to run different size jackets, maintain current production speeds and insure a quality insert package for their customers.  The kits from Muller Martini were an obvious choice.  According to Jeff Sauls, Packaging Manager, “We selected the Muller Martini web reduction solution because of their proven experience and knowledge of our inserting equipment.  They delivered the most logical solution and were able to develop a Pocket modification idea that truly works.”

At the Record Searchlight, the conversion work was done on an SLS1000A in order to facilitate a 44” web width reduction.  The company, which publishes a daily paper as well as a number of weekly papers, was also confident that Muller would offer the right solution to meet their needs.  Noted Sterling Yeaman, Production Director, “The conversion project went flawlessly.  During Muller’s pre-site inspection, some potential challenges were identified.  However, because of Muller Martini’s excellent advanced planning, these challenges became non-issues.”