Press maker Goss International is on a roll in Nigeria, where 44 new Community press units have been sold this year.

Four new presses this year will bring the total to almost 200 units since 2008. More than 375 Community and Magnum units have been installed in the African continent since 2007, the company says.

At the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, a six-web, 12-unit press with half and quarterfold will bring printing of the state-owned ‘The Pioneer’ in-house and enable it to become a daily.

“This investment will jump start training for Akwa Ibom people in sophisticated printing technology, as well as serve the local media industry and commercial interest,” state commissioner for information and communication Aniekan Umanah says.

In Lagos, the first of two identical Community presses for Vanguard Media is currently being installed. Each has two four-high and one two-high tower, with motorised ink keys.

Launched in 1984, ‘Vanguard’ is one of Nigeria's oldest and most popular independent newspapers. The company also publishes a variety of specialist titles including ‘Sweet Crude’, ‘Hitech’ and ‘Cyber Life’. The second Community will be delivered to its facility in Asaba, Delta State later in the year.

Scheduled for delivery in October is a three-tower Community for Vintage Press  in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, publisher of national daily ‘The Nation’.