The joint investment with Trinity Mirror will move production of the Manchester Evening News (MEN) to Mirror Colour Print (MCP) Oldham, and includes the first UK installation of a state-of-the-art Wifag OF371 press.

As part of the deal, GMG has signed a 15-year contract with MCP to print all of its North West regional titles in full colour from 2006.

The move signals the start of a major overhaul of GMG's printing arrangements in preparation for the arrival of the mid-sized Guardian and Observer in 2006.

PrintWeek revealed last week that in the south, GMG is planning to move printing from West Ferry to Newsfax, the East London-based contract printer (PrintWeek, 18 November 2004).

A spokesman for MEN said that the move to the Berliner format meant there was no room at Trafford Park for presses to print the regional tabloid titles.

"The move to Oldham means all GMG's regional newspapers in the North West will be printed in full colour at the same plant," said GMG regional chief executive Ian Ashcroft.

The first edition of MEN went into production at MCP Oldham at the beginning of this month. Over the next two years the other three editions will also move.

The 96pp, 85,000cph, double-width Wifag press will be installed between October 2005 and June 2006, replacing four of the nine MAN Roland presses on the site.

It features 12 fully automated reel stands, 12 units, semi-automatic plate changing and closed loop controls for cut-off register, colour register and ink-density. It can also be upgraded to direct imaging (DI) of the plates on press in the future if required.

Ferag will provide mailroom kit to the Oldham plant, which was last month named PrintWeek Newspaper Printer of the Year.

Story by Barney Cox and Josh Brooks