Q.I. Press Controls (QIPC) has completed a major automation upgrade on a Goss Universal XL press at Empresa Gráfica Funchalense (EGF), Portugal’s largest newspaper printing facility. The installation features twelve mRC-3D cameras and a GOS operator console, bringing full color and cut-off register automation to the four-tower, one-folder press, significantly improving print quality and operational efficiency.

Located near Lisbon, EGF prints the southern editions of all national daily newspapers and full editions of the country’s leading weeklies. The company’s partnership with QIPC dates back to 2008, when it installed the first IRS register control systems on two Goss Universal 70 presses, both of which remain in active production today. According to EGF CEO Hernani Almeida, the trust built over years of reliable performance made QIPC the natural choice for automating the new Universal XL press.

“We had no doubt about the value of this investment,” said Almeida. “The system cuts waste by approximately 30% due to reduced manual operator input. It’s impossible to imagine our production process without it.”

The installation was managed collaboratively by EGF, QIPC, and their long-time local partner, PrintControl, which served as the general contractor. Their coordinated approach ensured that the press reinstallation and automation integration were completed seamlessly, enabling production to begin immediately.

In the face of industry-wide challenges, including shrinking run lengths and a shortage of experienced press operators, EGF views automation as a strategic imperative. “The addition of QIPC’s automatic register control allows us to minimize waste on every job and improve production stability by around 25%,” Almeida explained.

With all three of EGF’s Goss presses, two Universal 70s and the new Universal XL, fully automated with QIPC systems, the company has standardized its operations and maximized efficiency across its pressroom. The move is expected to deliver one of the fastest returns on investment in EGF’s history, thanks to consistent output, significant waste reduction, and streamlined operator workloads.

QIPC’s latest success in Portugal further strengthens its footprint in the region and deepens its longstanding collaboration with Grupo Vicra, EGF’s parent company. “The return on investment of the previous systems was as expected,” Almeida concluded. “But we also deeply value the consistent support provided throughout their entire lifetime.”