Despite the R3.5 billion recapitalisation of the group over the last three years centred around web offset technology, there are two reasons for this R150 million investment in new publication gravure technology.
Firstly, the support of the South African retail market of the print industry in both its local and Sub-Saharan African ventures has been and deserves an investment from a South African printer to support their requirements. The group's current publication gravure press is a previous generation model, commissioned in 1996. All other publication gravure presses in South Africa are reportedly more than two decades and two generations old. This acquisition takes South Africa to the forefront of new technology in quality, lead times and formats, as it is only the second press of its kind to be commissioned in the world.
Secondly, the press offers a 21 % increase in production speed, taking output to 3.5 million pages per hour. Energy consumption is down 12 %, waste saving is registered at 33 % and changeover speed is accelerated by 50 %, which is what the industry needs to curb costs, be first to market and to remain relevant.
The acquisition takes the publication gravure capacity of Paarl Media Cape to 54 000 tons. This is represented by 12 000 formats made possible by 1400 cylinders.
This project is combined with the group's soon to be implemented steam generation project, which will see the group be carbon negative through steam generation and deliver printing that is more efficient in terms of production and more environmentally sustainable.
"Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important from both a green perspective as well as in response to rising Eskom costs for power. Our R160 million investment in this steam generation project will allow our clients to meet both objectives," notes Christoff Botha, MD of Paarl Media Cape.
