The first Goss Colorliner CPS press – at DC Thomson in Dundee, Scotland – has had a right royal send-off from Charles and Camilla… despite the company’s Dennis the Menace thumbing his nose at the heir to the throne.

The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay (their Scottish title) were at the newspaper and comic publisher’s Kingsway print centre, where £25 million ($41.12 million) has been spent on a refurbishment project which includes the new press.

DC Thomson publishes eight newspaper titles with a total print run of over 700,000 including the Evening Telegraph, Press and Journal and Evening Express, and a string of magazines including The Beano and the curiously titled Oor Wullie.

Goss showed a tower from the new compact hybrid press at DRUPA. At Publish Asia in Bali last year, Raymond McRobbie told how a press staff of 45 at the Dundee site would produce “more work than had previously been handled by 120 at two (Dundee and Glasgow)”.

The investment has seen three existing Colorliner presses refurbished and reconfigured as a single line, new Agfa/Barenshee CTP and Müller Martini mailroom equipment, and the installation last year of the new shorter cutoff CPS press with eight towers, two heatset dryers and two 2:5:5 folders.

Installed into the existing press hall, the 90,000 cph press has automatic plate changing, reel loading and web width change, with Baldwin blanket cleaning and QI colour controls. Mailroom equipment includes two identically configured Müller Martini ProLiner newspaper inserting systems automatic preprint feeders and three insert stations, a NewsTrim fanflex trimmer and a FlexiRoll buffer with eight rolls, plus integrated Tempo E220 saddle stitching.

The publisher of the Aberdeen Press & Journal (established 1747) and originator of the ‘Dennis the Menace’ comics had closed its gravure plant and outsourced its magazines when revenue plunged during the recession. Glossy products previously produced gravure were being brought back inhouse.

The Duke and Duchess toured the plant and met staff, with the ‘Bash Street kid’ living up to expectations by thumbing his nose at the royal couple. The couple appear in a special edition of The Beano with Charles teaching the Bash Street Kids about organic food and healthy eating and taking part in a monumental school dinner food fight

See ITV television footage of Dennis the Menace thumbing his nose at the Prince – and Camilla returning the compliment.

Pictured: Prince Charles and head of operations Jim McBride, accompanied by two members of the royal household

On our home page: Charles points out a monitor feature to Camilla, watched by (from left) team leader Craig Bertie and Jim McBride (Pictures Kami Thomson/DC Thomson)