The Villages Operating Company from Florida is investing in a Commander CT 6/2 from Koenig & Bauer. A new, modern production hall is being built for the triple wide installation, which features three reelstands, three printing towers and a folder. This will enable the Commander CT to be expanded further at a later stage. Delivery of the new newspaper rotary press is scheduled for the 3rd quarter of 2020. “We felt it important to have a partner by our side on whom we could build for the long term and who offered stability and continuity. We had an open and trusting relationship right from the very first conversation – and of course the quality of Koenig & Bauer’s products was also persuasive”, said Phil Markward, Publisher at the Villages Media Group.

Alongside advertising leaflets, magazines and contracts from external customers, the centerpiece of the media group is the ‘The Villages Daily Sun’ newspaper. It is one of the few newspapers in the US to see its circulation rise continuously. The printing capacity of the new Commander CT 6/2 is 90,000 four-color newspapers per hour. Stefan Segger, Vice President Sales Koenig & Bauer Digital & Webfed: “We are of course delighted to have persuaded a new customer of the merits of our systems. I believe we have been able to demonstrate once again that we are the world market leader with our high-speed rotary presses and that in us publishers have a partner by their side on whom they can rely.” Seven of the last eight large newspaper rotary presses sold to North America have been Koenig & Bauer machines.

With a daily circulation of just over 60,000 newspapers, The Villages Daily Sun has been enjoying steady growth for years. The newspaper is distributed mainly in The Villages, a fast-growing town in Florida almost an hour away from Orlando. Some 120,000 people live there already, and 300 new houses are built every month. Phil Markward: “The printed newspaper is part of our community philosophy, and we notice that the expectations on the newspaper are particularly high. Quality journalism must therefore also be presented well. Based on 20 years of consecutive circulation growth we firmly believe the circulation will continue to climb in the coming years.”

A comprehensive automation package including RollerTronic roller locks, CleanTronic cylinder wash-up device, color and cutting register control systems, color measuring and control systems and the fully automated plate changing systems reduces make ready times, wastage, operating and maintenance costs to a minimum. The Commander CT is controlled from a new ErgoTronic console with EasyTronic for optimized start-up of the rotary press. An extensive software package for maintenance and repairs simplifies and gives transparency to the operating processes on the technical side.