INCISION DECISIONS ACCELERATE

Moves to 50-inch web widths gathered steam in 1999 and will gain even more momentum this year, a panel of newspaper production managers predicted Thursday.

"The theory that the pace is accelerating is accurate," said Robert Palermini, manager for publishing technology at the Chicago Tribune, who led the Press & Materials segment panel. "I think in the future we’ll be seeing an increasing number of conversions."

THE SEARCH FOR A STANDARD While newspapers move in the direction of 50-inch web widths, there is no agreement on the standard width of the image areas on smaller-size pages. The NAA Board of Directors is expected to consider a suggested image width during its Feb. 5 meeting, according to panelists. The Los Angeles Times moved to an image area of 11 1/2 inches in early Jannuary; other large-market dailies have also settled on that size. After having considered an 11 1/2-inch suggested image size, the board may reccomend a 11 5/8-inch image width, panelists said. The 1980 conversion to a standard advertising unit measurement prompted similar issues and took years to iron out, panelists recalled.

There is, however, some reluctance in the industry to convert. The question of a standard page-image area also remains under discussion (see right). And some newspapers chose last year to have the best of both possible worlds: They retooled presses to be adjustable to variable widths.

But the savings gained from using less newsprint remains the force driving 50-inch moves, the panelists agreed. Notable converts in 1999 included The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and The Plain Dealer in Cleveland.

Panelists discussed issues to tackle before, during and after conversions.

Ensuring parts for retooling and skilled workers to tackle the changes is an especially daunting challenge. As more papers make the move, demand for both continues growing.

Joe Giles, printing manager at The Plain Dealer, has now led the paper through its second web-width reduction. Its Goss Colorliner presses were installed with 55-inch webs in 1994; in 1996 they were reduced to 53 7/8 inches. Then, in late 1997 and early 1998, managers decided to make the move to 50 inches.

Giles cautioned press managers to considder an array of issues from timing (The Plain Dealer launched the reduction to coincide with a rate increase) to ensuring the right people are available to do the job.

Brad Patterson, press project manager at the Los Angeles Times, was challenged with reducing presses at three printing centers. The method ensuring his success: "Planning, planning, planning," he said. Managers must consider literally every piece of the press, from slitters for vacuum systems on the superstructure to the positioning of static belts on smaller rolls.

Larry Urrutia, director of manufacturing for Gannett Co. in Arlington, Va., offered the corporate perspective, noting that his company believes each of the group's 53 doublewide and 27 singlewide presses could show a 5 percent-to-7.4 percent reduction in newsprint consumption. Between March and October, Gannett hopes to convert 53 newspapers, he said. USA Today will tie a redesign into its reduction to an 11.5-inch page width image area, slated to launch in April.

Panelists all stressed that plans should include time to test new press setups and consideration for removing old press parts and other material. Also, the conversion is a good time to replace worn parts not related to the web-width reduction.

In Los Angeles, Patterson said that staffers realized fresh bearings were not available to repack some parts. He urged papers to contact local manufacturers to ensure ample part supplies exist.

Dozens of areas must be discussed in a newspaper before a conversion, including the changes in line counts for classified advertising and reduction in news hole. Also, bear in mind that the changes take space away from what advertisers are purchasing, panelists cautioned.

On the other hand, few readers seemed to notice the changes, panelists agreed.

-Bob Sims