The new press joins a MAN Polyman and a Goss Magnum, both also 16pp presses, which along with Creo Quantum plate setting and a full print finishing operation has involved a significant investment into the business.

The new MAN Rotoman is on a Pecom integrated digital network with the Polyman, which means that prepress data is used to set the presses automatically for the next job. The presses are cross loaded, with automated scheduling and rescheduling. Webstar says plate changing on the new Rotoman takes just four minutes, with complete job turnaround achieved in less than ten minutes.

Noel Rogers, CEO Webstar New Zealand and Australia says, “The third press is simply in response to fantastic growth opportunities developed in the first 18 months of operations, particularly in the quality consumer magazines sector. Our Polyman had reached 24/7 demand and we needed to increase our production capability. We chose the MAN Rotoman primarily because we have been extremely impressed with MAN Roland and with the Polyman. MAN Roland has provided us with excellent support, and the productivity and quality of the Polyman has exceeded expectations. The Rotoman gives us an extra third in terms of production power, to 60,000cph along with the 40,000 on the Polyman, with the same high quality print”.

Webstar’s strategy is to increase its profile in the high-quality mid-run consumer publications market. The company, which is part of the Blue Star Print Group, is operating from a new purpose built print site in Silverwater, and after 18 months operation is planning to increase floor space in the near future. On site prepress is interfaced with sister sheetfed company Link Printing.

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