The Namibian and Trustco establish printing company

IN an effort to develop the growing local media and printing industry, two leading Namibian businesses have joined hands to set up a printing company, Free Press Printers (Pty) Limited.

Free Press Printers, expected to start operating by August, is a joint venture between the country’s largest daily newspaper, The Namibian and Trustco Group International, which owns the bi-monthly newspaper, Informante – soon to be a weekly paper. The N$30 million printing project, which will be Namibia’s largest and most advanced newspaper printing press, will also see to the printing of the two newspapers.Free Press Printers will also assist in developing the national economy by proving employment to more than 100 people.The printing works will be situated in the Lafrenz industrial area in Windhoek, where construction work is underway.It will consist state-of-art technology including a screen pre-press, Goss Community main press, a Meg Air heat set package for commercial printing needs and a Thorsted mailroom.The Goss Community is capable of printing at speeds of between 25 000 and 30 000 impressions per hour.In order to get the best standard of print quality, the business partners invested in a press line loaded with distinct technological advantages.The printing press comes with technological components and equipment that would be a first for Namibia – which incorporate speedy and quality printing.The press arrived at the port of Walvis Bay at the weekend and is scheduled to be commissioned on August 1.The idea to invest in a printing press was mooted last year by the TGI Managing Director, Quinton van Rooyen followed by negotiations with the editor of The Namibian Gwen Lister.This culminated in the establishment of Free Press Printers in December.Lister said the printing press would take The Namibian to greater heights in terms of improved quality and quicker delivery to the public’, while Van Rooyen said the venture was an opportunity to expand his company’s local investment portfolio.The N$30 million printing project, which will be Namibia’s largest and most advanced newspaper printing press, will also see to the printing of the two newspapers.Free Press Printers will also assist in developing the national economy by proving employment to more than 100 people.The printing works will be situated in the Lafrenz industrial area in Windhoek, where construction work is underway.It will consist state-of-art technology including a screen pre-press, Goss Community main press, a Meg Air heat set package for commercial printing needs and a Thorsted mailroom.The Goss Community is capable of printing at speeds of between 25 000 and 30 000 impressions per hour.In order to get the best standard of print quality, the business partners invested in a press line loaded with distinct technological advantages.The printing press comes with technological components and equipment that would be a first for Namibia – which incorporate speedy and quality printing.The press arrived at the port of Walvis Bay at the weekend and is scheduled to be commissioned on August 1.The idea to invest in a printing press was mooted last year by the TGI Managing Director, Quinton van Rooyen followed by negotiations with the editor of The Namibian Gwen Lister.This culminated in the establishment of Free Press Printers in December.Lister said the printing press would take The Namibian to greater heights in terms of improved quality and quicker delivery to the public’, while Van Rooyen said the venture was an opportunity to expand his company’s local investment portfolio.