Installation of the six-unit double-width press, which is currently subject to contract, will begin in May 2004 and should be running by the end of the year. It will be capable of producing 96pp colour pages at 75,000 copies per hour running in straight mode.

The Geoman 75 will produce two daily newspapers, The Oxford Mail and the Swindon Evening Advertiser, along with The Oxford Times and Wiltshires Gazette and Herald series. It will replace a 32-year-old Crabtree press.

Newsquest chief executive Paul Davidson said: MAN Roland put together a strong proposal. We look forward to working with them on this major investment.

The new hall, which will be built on the existing Newsquest (Oxfordshire) site, has already been approved by Oxford City Council.

Earlier this year fellow Newsquest company, Southernprint, increased its web offset capacity by 30% when it ordered the UKs fourth MAN Roland Lithoman IV (PrintWeek, 13 September).