News International last month officially opened its Broxbourne printing plant, in the process closing its Wapping production site.

The new facility, anchored by 12 triplewide presses from MAN Roland Inc. that can produce up to 1 million copies per hour, represents the final stages of the company’s $1 billion investment to upgrade its print facilities (see Newspapers & Technology, July 2007). NI said it’s the world’s largest print facility.

“This new Broxbourne facility represents an enormous advance in our capabilities — a truly state-of-the-art printing system that we are confident will deliver real innovation for years to come,” said Brian McGee, managing director of Newsprinters, NI’s printing unit. “Our investment of should be ample answer to those who believe the business of journalism, in print, is a business for yesterday’s readers, not tomorrow’s. We believe that print will continue to be a driving force, even in this connected age.”

NI began printing papers in Broxbourne earlier this year. It joins two other NI plants, one in Scotland and the other in northwest England.

Full color throughout

The three plants together deploy 19 MAN Roland presses allowing all four News International national titles — The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun and The News of the World — to print full color on every page.

The Broxbourne facility will also produce a free sheet, thelondonpaper.

NI said the plant generates its electrical supply from renewable energy sources and that its newsprint is composed primarily from recycled paper.