Trafford Park Printers new Muller Martini mailroom extension has been completed, with the first pieces of kit due to go into the plant in December.

The Muller Martini kit includes two Newsliner inserters, two Newsgrips, six packing lines and conveyors and six CN-80 stackers.

The Manchester plant, a joint venture between the Guardian Media Group and Telegraph Group, prints the northern editions of The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, plus the Manchester Evening News.

Two folding lines will be linked to the plants new Heidelberg Mainstream press, one of two ordered by Telegraph Group at Drupa 2000 for Trafford Park (PrintWeek, 2 June 2000). Another five will go to West Ferry to handle Telegraph Groups southern printing requirements.

The third folding line will be linked to an existing Goss T60 press, which will move into the mailroom.

"Everything is on course for us to commence with straight publishing on The Guardian," said production director John Coombs.

He added that one of the main benefits from the extension would be would be quick and efficient delivery of The Guardian into the wholesale area.

Trafford Park managing director Jacques de Wit said: "The Muller Martini system enables the mailroom to operate independently of the presses, and allows for flexibility in the schedules."

The upgrade has been principally to provide an insertion capacity for supplements and to cope with increased pagination.

Story by Andy Scott