New printing facility for INM as strike looms

INDEPENDENT News and Media (INM) is planning to open a newspaper printing facility in Newry next year.

The multi-million euro facility — aimed at meeting increasing capacity demands, particularly at its existing Belfast-based printing house — is expected to be operational during the first half of 2007.

According to a spokesperson for the group: “The idea is that this will surpass anything — in terms of printing capability and capacity — already in existence in the Irish market.

“It will support both internal and external printing requirements and meet the increasing demands for the printing of supplements and magazines.

The group could switch printing of the Belfast Telegraph, the Sunday World, the Sunday Tribune and the Star to the new facility. It also has a 15-year deal in place to print titles for News International — including The Sun — which could also be included in the new development.

Meanwhile, the threat of industrial action from printers at Independent Newspapers is being “held in reserve” pending movement by the company’s management. Last Tuesday, members of the Dublin Printing Group of Unions at Independent Newspapers balloted in favour of industrial action in a dispute over their pension scheme.