A new digital printing operation in St Saviour will create 24 new jobs and will print all of the national newspapers, with the exception of the Financial Times, for both Jersey and Guernsey, from January.
It will mean that the delivery of daily and weekend national newspapers will no longer be flown into islands or be delayed due to bad weather.
Guernsey’s national newspapers will be shipped from Jersey early every morning.
KP Services (Jersey) Ltd, the new company behind the venture, has been formed by Kodak Ltd and Jersey Evening Post publishers the Guiton Group.
It will also be responsible for printing newspaper supplements, personalised mailers, other commercial printing material and, more significantly, the Jersey Evening Post.
The new press means that the JEP can be printed in full colour, throughout, for the first time in its 125-year history.
The company, in partnership with Kodak, is investing in the new-generation digital printing press, and its operation at Rue des Prés Trading Estate will put Jersey at the global forefront of this type of technology.
Jack Knadjian, managing director for KP Services (Jersey) Ltd, said: ‘In today’s printing environment, businesses are investing in technologies that are complementing long-established production methods, which will enable them to lead newspaper printing into the future.
‘We have pioneered inkjet printing for newspapers and are ready to show the world the next generation of our inkjet presses with Kodak Stream Inkjet Technology, which provides both speed and quality.
‘Through KP Services (Jersey) Ltd, we will demonstrate the value of this technology to our customers around the world.’
Paul Carter, managing director of Guiton Publishing and the Jersey Evening Post, said: ‘After 125 years of consistently printing our own titles, which included the difficult period of the Occupation, it is fair to say that any new solution needed to be pretty impressive for us to even consider moving from self-sufficiency to this type of partnership.
‘This solution will allow the JEP to be printed in full colour throughout, for the first time, and with industry-leading standards in registration and reproduction.
‘Advertisers and readers will both benefit from the sharper images, cleaner print and modern finishing associated with this new technology, which will be based at Rue des Prés.
‘In the year when we celebrate our 125th anniversary it is satisfying to invest in future-proofing our business in this way, and it’s a resounding vote of confidence in the JEP from our shareholders.’
