Mechanical installation of a reconfigured and refurbished Goss Urbanite for the Washington Post is close to completion.

Four weeks in, the project is ahead of schedule mechanically, with all major heavy iron – including units, folders and pasters – is assembled, levelled, trammed and anchored, with much of the press already grouted in place, supplier ImPressions Worldwide told GXpress. Catwalks, railings, stairs and mezzanine structures are now nearly complete, while motors and major electrical cabinets have been positioned throughout the system.

Installed in the centre of a new 5,400m2 building close to Dulles airport, the single-width, two-around press has been configured with four three-high towers to the left of two double-former folders, eight more two-highs and another folder, delivering shorter web leads and a sectionised broadsheet product. This weekend’s Washington Post product consisted of Front, Inside A-Section, Opinion, Sports, Business, Metro, Arts&Style, and Travel sections.

ImPressions’ Tom Loesch says the pace and precision continue, as their teams and those of The Washington Post push deeper into critical installation phases: “Over the past several weeks, major mechanical and electrical milestones have been achieved, keeping the project moving forward with great momentum.”

Decking, speed rail systems, stairways, roll shaft troughs, hoists, conduits, and the drive cabinet mezzanine structure have been installed and pasters levelled, stacked, and anchored.

The electrical portion of the project is also underway – led by IW lead electrical technician Armando Garcia – with teams routing cables, interconnecting operator stations, installing conduit and wireways, updating colour control and unit control cabinets and preparing DCOS automation systems for commissioning. DCOS camera supports have been installed and rabbit boards for the existing Perretta motorised sidelay and circumferential register mounted.

ImPressions and Post teams are working together, and with knowledge transferred throughout the installation process, Loesch says a strong partnership atmosphere has been created on-site.

Pictured: Front page and section fronts for Opinion, Sports, Business, Metro, Arts&Style, and Travel (missing: Inside A-Section); teams from the Washington Post and ImPressionsWorldwide are working together at the Dulles site (pictured ImPressions Worldwide)