Kansas City Star Wins Wall St. Journal Printing Contract
Newspaper reports its $200 million plant handles 25 commercial printing contracts since opening in 2006.
By Bill Esler -- Graphic Arts Online, November 10, 2009
The Kansas City Star boasts one of the most modern newspaper plants in the world, completing construction of a $200 million, downtown printing and distribution plant in 2006.
The Kansas City Star reports it has been awarded a five-year contract to print and distribute The Wall Street Journal.The Kansas City Star, a unit of McClatchy, says it began printing the Journal Monday, for distribution in Kansas and Missouri. Star publisher Mark Zieman. "It's great to work with a world-class company that shares our passion for newspapers."
The Wall St. Journal is optimizing printing by consolidating printing with other news Corp. properties, or outsourcing printing. For example, the financial daily newspaper plans to close its South Brunswick, NJ printing plant and move the production to News Corp.'s New York Post,
The Star opened a new printing plant in 2006, centered around four KBA Commander presses in two press lines. Two presses have double folders, for a total six folders, 216 total printing couples, in 36 towers, with 40 Pastostar RC automatic reel stands, on-line stitching, and six section capabilities. The presses, launched in June, 2006, were upgraded to a 48-inch web-width.The Star opened its $200 million production facility in 2006. Since then the newspaper reports it has signed more than 25 commercial printing agreements.
