A new newspaper press was "the next logical step" for independent printshop WE-Druck after upgrading postpress three years ago.

Established in 1982 as a division of German regional publisher NWZ-Mediengruppe, the company's 80-strong team prints more than 1.5 million newspapers - including the daily and weekly Nordwest-Zeitung and Ostfriesen-Zeitung, Sunday and monthly titles - handles some seven inserted supplements.

Now a new Koenig & Bauer Commander CL press is set to be the new heart of the printing house, capable of pumping out up to 110,000 four-colour newspapers an hour formats to suit their customers' preferences.

Nordwest-Zeitung Verlagsgesellschaft managing director Harold Grönke says after upgrading all its postpress equipment three years, the press investment was logical step. They visited other Commander users for feedback, which was "incredibly positive," according to senior manager Margit Schweizer, before making the commitment.

"We were bowled over not just by the technology, but also by the team from Koenig & Bauer," says Grönke.

KBA-Digital & Web Solutions sales director Stefan Segger says their focus on producing numerous print titles more efficiently and cost effectively, while meeting demands for high quality, is typical. "We are currently seeing a focus on practical and highly automated presses when it comes to new investments, and we have an outstanding reputation in these areas. The Commander CL is extremely popular at the moment, given its high level of performance and flexibility."

WE-Druck's four-tower Commander CL will come on stream mid-2019. It will have two KF 5 jaw folders and three Pastomat C reelstands, embedded in a Patras A automated logistics system. Automation includes roller locks, cylinder washing systems, colour and cut-off register controls and automatic plate change, reducing makeready times, waste and operating and maintenance requirements.

An ErgoTronic control console - incorporating EasyTronic for press start-up and automatic run-down - will be embedded in a complete EAE workflow with an open interface. Included is Koenig & Bauer's MobileConsole tablet control system, which provides a full set of operating functions at any position at the press.

Provision has been made for the future addition of an automated colour measurement and control system, and a further printing tower.

Pictured after the contract signing are (from left): WE-Druck's head of plant technology Stefan Hechler, Harold Grönke, KBA sales manager Günter Noll, Margit Schweizer, Stefan Segger and WE-Druck head of web printing Rainer Neugebauer