Not just good food, but a well-printed newspaper is important in Germany's Saarland, where hauptsach gudd gess is a common phrase.

Beyond "the main thing is good food", that means technology to deliver the Saarbrücker Zeitung newspaper in the southwestern German state.

Two ten-year-old manroland Colorman presses have been brought up-to-date with technology including the maker's IDCµ ink density control system, which uses micro marks.

Saarbrücker Zeitung becomes the second installation for IDCµ after a team including print manager Gerhard Leibrock visited Bamberg print house. The installation is part of a larger modernisation, which includes retrofitting the control console computer and a mobile MobilPad control station upgrade.

Leibrock says the colour and cut-off controls will significantly reduce operation and material costs: "The fact that IDCµ takes charge of ink feeding completely automatically means that even a small operating team is capable of producing securely," he says. "It lets us achieve absolutely efficient production processes."

The new system joins earlier upgrades including integration of turner bar levels and splicer automation, and is supported by a TelePresence service contract.