Industry Insight

DESPITE EARTHQUAKE, HORVITZ NEWSPAPERS'
BUILDING PROJECT PROCEEDS ON SCHEDULE

March 12, 2001, Washington - The recent 6.8 magnitude earthquake caused a loss of electrical power to the South County Journal and some anxious moments, but did not interfere with Horvitz Newspapers' progress in designing a new production facility on its property in Kent, Wash. The 56,000-square-foot facility, designed by Chuck Blevins & Associates, is expected to be fully operational by the fall of 2002. When completed, this facility will print all Horvitz Newspapers' King County publications, commercial products and contract publications.

One unique aspect of CBAssociates' design is a two-story support core, with computer-to-plate and prepress functions located on the second level. Locating the prepress functions on level two and connecting them to the press with a bridge allows the plates to be delivered directly to the upper press-deck level. This approach will minimize the need for press operators to climb stairs in order to change plates, as up to 70 percent of the plates and plate changes occur on the upper press level.

As part of the design process, Chuck Blevins & Associates' technical specialists developed detailed equipment layouts to facilitate decision making and building design. This allowed the Horvitz Newspaper Project Team to evaluate various building layout concepts based on equipment and process ramifications. These concepts took into consideration future requirements and will accommodate a press expansion.

Providing a good work environment for the employees is important to Horvitz Newspapers. Therefore, the facility design incorporates a lot of glass to provide natural daylight in the break room and the press operations. Windows measuring 24 feet in height and 60 linear feet along the press bay wall provide passing traffic and pedestrians glimpses of the operation. The facility design and the new, highly automated equipment will increase the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the operation. It will allow the company to consolidate publications, increase commercial and direct-mail capabilities and capacity.

In addition to planning and design services, CBAssociates assisted in determining equipment needs and specifications. This included developing requests for proposals, coordinating press inspection visits, and assisting in developing technical aspects of the purchase agreement for the new press.

Chuck Blevins & Associates is an international newspaper and printing operations consulting firm specializing in product and operations planning, production and distribution operations, process and equipment analysis, masterplanning and facility design.

For information on Chuck Blevins & Associates and its services, please contact Janelle Piccola at 303-431-5909 or e-mail us at Janellepiccola@chuckblevins.com.