Over the past two years, Fairfax Media with Fujifilm Australia have transformed Fairfax’s newspaper production facilities to comply with the evolving needs of print publishing. The restructuring projects, which have taken place across the news media group’s printing plants, form part of a $30m three-year contract to supply Brillia violet light-sensitive and thermal heat-sensitive plates to all group sites in Australia and New Zealand. Key plants in North Richmond, NSW, Ballarat, VIC and that of the Canberra Times have already been converted from thermal to Fujifilm’s LPN-NV violet plate, as the latter better meets the needs of long-run, tight deadline production for coldset newspapers.
Upgrading: Fairfax Media have partnered with Fujifilm Australia to upgrade its news paper printers
Metro flagship titles the Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian Financial Review, which currently deliver 2400 dpi imaging resolution, have also doubled production less than a year after installing two extra Nela Vision punch-benders. Fujifilm Australia’s graphic systems specialist Warren Hinder, commenting on the upgrade says, “What we have worked to do is create as much redundancy as possible, while meeting the needs of diversity and flexibility of this amazingly productive site.” Hinder says its project partnership with Fairfax Media means Fujifilm Australia accepts full responsibility for the equipment and consumables the upgrade requires. He says, “By thoroughly understanding Fairfax Media’s needs, we have been able to supply plates and equipment which truly complement their requirements.” Fujifilm has also extended the existing Uniset press with additional towers, folders and heatset dryers within print plants servicing Melbourne daily paper, The Age and southern editions of the AFR in Ballarat. Fujifilm has a longstanding relationship with Fairfax Media which extends back to 2006 when it helped introduce computer-to-plate technology at the Sydney Morning Herald. Fujifilm believes the partnership will help secure the future of the newspaper industry in Australia.
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