The finishing system of Alma Media’s new printing facility to be supplied by Ferag AG

Alma Media Corporation    Stock Exchange Release    June 28, 2011 at 13.00 (EEST)

THE FINISHING SYSTEM OF ALMA MEDIA’S NEW PRINTING FACILITY TO BE SUPPLIED BY FERAG AG

Alma Media’s printing and distribution company Alma Manu Oy has today agreed that it will acquire the finishing system for its new newspaper printing facility in Tampere, due to be completed in 2012, from Ferag AG, Hinwil, Switzerland. The parties have decided not to disclose the value of the purchase.

“Ferag’s equipment match our technical needs best. Efficient finishing system, that represents the latest technology, truly adds value for our customers as it enables a versatile finishing of printed products. For example, we can insert into heatset-printed covers produced elsewhere to pages printed by us. The equipment enables production in so called quarterfold format which corresponds to a half of a tabloid page. It will also be possible to insert postcards as well as gluing them onto the front page of the newspapers. Additionally, we prepare to produce regional editions of newspapers”, says Helvi Liukkaala, Managing Director of Alma Manu Oy.

Construction work at the new facility is advancing according to schedule in Sarankulma, Tampere. The installation of the new equipment will start in the summer of 2012, and its first newspapers will be delivered to customers in early 2013. The new printing press can simultaneously print three large-volume daily newspapers for early-morning delivery. It can also be used for extensive daytime production, and, thanks to its high degree of automation, for economic printing of smaller runs than today. The new facility can produce both broadsheet and tabloid formats. Of Alma Media’s newspapers, for example Aamulehti, Kauppalehti, Iltalehti, Satakunnan Kansa and several local and city papers will be printed in the new facility.

ALMA MEDIA CORPORATION
Rauno Heinonen, Vice President, Corporate Communications and IR

For further information, please contact:
Helvi Liukkaala, Managing Director, Alma Manu Oy, tel. +358 10 665 3009

Distribution: NASDAQ OMX Helsingin Pörssi Oy, main media

Alma Media in brief

Alma Media is a dynamic media company whose best-known products are Aamulehti, Iltalehti, Kauppalehti and Etuovi.com. Alma Media employs approximately 2,800 professionals. The company’s net sales in 2010 totalled MEUR 311.4 with an operating margin of 13.9 per cent. Alma Media’s share (ALN1V) is listed in the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Exchange. Read more at www.almamedia.fi

Share article