The inauguration was done on 7 July 2011 by K Balaji, director of Kasturi & Sons – publishers of The Hindu newspaper in India  

The Sinapse simulator provide the virtual running of a newspaper press. The simulator at RMTC can simulate three press configurations – 2x1, 4x1 and 4x2, both broadsheet and tabloid. It includes a library of almost all the problems that can happen in the newspaper production environment to simulate different press situations- necessary for the extensive range of Indian installations.

Magdoom Mohamed, head of WAN-IFRA South Asia said: "WAN-IFRA has been associated with the newspaper simulators for many years in Europe. Installing these at our training center is a major step forward in our partnership with Indian publishers at this time when Indian newspapers are investing in new printing presses to augment their growth. As the simulator at RMTC can simulate 2x1, 4x1 and 4x2 presses, we have a wide range of training that can be offered"

A first of its kind in the South Asian Newspaper industry, the training program will be managed by WAN-IFRA South Asia, and is part of a larger scale effort to increase skill levels and introduce best practice standards in the Indian newspaper industry.

Anand Srinivisan, research engineer at Wan-Ifra Asia explained certain characteristics of these simulators: "Simulator software application is equipped with three monitors. Press console monitor, which displays the press control console and allows controlling the entire press from reel stand to the conveyors; Print copy monitor, which shows the printed copy and proof and lets the operator to analyse the printed copy and to compare the differences between the printed copy and the proof and the Folder output monitor which shows the folded newspaper section and its problems."

The participating publishers are Anand Bazaar Patrika (The Telegraph), Deccan Herald, Malayala Manorama, The Mathrubhumi, The Hindu and The Times of India.

Wan-Ifra provides on-site training program for the newspapers which are part of this group. All the above mentioned six newspapers have booked 120 days of training till December 2012.

"RMTC can offer comprehensive, individual and collective training modules on materials, reel stand, web tension, printing unit, superstructures, folders and quality control" added Srinivasan.

France-based Sinapse Print Simulators specialise in press training simulators, and has more than 1700 licenses installed around the world.

Schedule for the monthly training program till the first quarter of 2012
November 10 – 11, 2011
December 8 – 9, 2011
January 19 – 20, 2012
February 16 – 17, 2012
March 15 – 16, 2012

For more details, contact:
Anand Srinivasan, Research Engineer, WAN-IFRA South Asia.
Tel: +91 44 4211 0640
Email: rmtc@wan-ifra.org