Some of the 18 Goss presses at the Docklands site date back to 1984, but Desmond told The Observer: "You can get another 10 or 12 years out of those machines."
West Ferry's contracts with Express Newspapers and partner the Telegraph Group run out in 2009. Although both groups have announced investment plans in the last two years, Desmond's promise of a 20m upgrade in 2004 has come to little, with a move to CTP last year but the presses left untouched.
"It's a very difficult marketplace at the moment. West Ferry has to look at all its options. All the other nationals have raced away now," said MAN Roland GB web division director Norman Revill.
No new presses for West Ferry
An upgrade to West Ferrys ageing presses looks unlikely after joint proprietor and outspoken Express Newspapers owner Richard Desmond told <i>The Observer<i/i> that the plant was comparatively new.
