The Guardian, Oc'e open first digital print site in Australia

The Guardian Newspapers Group in London has today announced that it will start live production at its first digital production site in Australia in June as part of its international strategy. The Guardian and The Observer are respected UK broadsheets that will be printed on an Oc'e Digital Newspress 8000 by Security Mail Pty.Ltd, Oc'e`s strategic print partner in Australia.

Oc'e, the recognised world leader in short-run digital print production, has provided The Guardian and The Observer with a new gateway to the Australian market, enabling them to be the only daily British newspapers on sale on the day of publication in Australia, providing a unique service to their readers.

Oc'e Digital Newspaper Network is using its high-speed digital machine to print The Guardian and The Observer international editions in Sydney seven days a week. Due to the nine-hour time difference, it will mean that the newspapers are on the streets of Sydney before the UK, and that The Guardian Newspaper Group will carry fresher news than Australian domestic publications. The papers will be available at lunchtime both to subscribers and newsstands.

The Guardian Newspaper Group is confident of a sales success in line with its weekly newspaper, the Guardian Weekly, which is already printed in Australia under conventional printing methods.

Steve Sparks, managing director of Security Mail, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have The Guardian Newspaper Group start production in Australia despite the difficult economic climate within the newspaper market, and we look forward to building the sales with them. We know there is a very strong business and ex-pat market in Australia, and The Guardian and The Observer are excellent choices to give an international perspective on global issues."

Joe Clark, circulation director of The Guardian Newspaper Group, said: "Oc'e`s digital solution enables The Guardian and The Observer to be the only British newspapers to have access to the Australian market with publications on sale on the day of publication. We believe this to be very exciting news for our readers, and a crucial step in the implementation of our global international strategy."

This revolutionary way of printing newspapers to an international audience at remote locations - via a high-speed digital data distribution network - has received widespread worldwide support, particularly from senior figures in the printing and publishing industry.

Paul Krisson, business development manager for Oc'e Digital Newspaper Network, said: "It is fantastic to see yet another progressive publisher taking advantage of this revolutionary way of producing newspapers to expand its market and enhance its service to readers."