A glance at the schematic shows one persuasive argument for the new generation of ‘compact’ press towers: An eight-high tower in not much more space than a couple of satellites. The ‘Main-Post’ in KBA’s home town of Würzburg is accustomed to working with the German press maker, and has been involved in four ‘world premieres’ in the past year. Among them was the launch of the Commander CT in September 2007. Now both companies are celebrating the anniversary with what is claimed to be the first eight-high wet offset newspaper press, a second 58-tonne Commander CT having been placed atop the first. KBA says the 16-couple tower will come on stream in September. With two reelstands the nine-metre high press line will be able to print 32 full-colour broadsheet pages or 64 tabloid pages. KBA has had a waterless Cortina press in a similar configuration at Edipresse in Lausanne, Switzerland, for a couple of years. The extension – which features new-design film inking units with three forme rollers, RollerTronic automatic roller locks and NipTronic bearing technology – has converted two former satellite fans, Main-Post technical manager Andreas Kunzemann and printshop manager Adrian Alt-Steiner, to compact technology. No doubt accustomed to working with the KBA technical team, the ‘Main-Post’ also pioneered the Zip’n’Buy sidebar and coupon perforator concept, and the idea of printing the title page on recycled packing paper. Pictured: The diagram shows the two stacked Commander CT towers added at the Main-Post on the left and the conventional 32-page satellite towers installed some years ago, on the right.