The Garden City-based company publishes the Herald Community Newspapers, a chain of 27 publications that includes Herald Community Newspapers, the PrimeTime Xpress guides, The Riverdale Press and The Jewish Star. In addition to producing its own products, RCI prints other newspapers and publications from clients located across the region.
RCI has installed a new state-of-the-art color tower to its press, an addition that expands the company's ability to satisfy the needs of its readers, advertisers and printing clients. With the new tower, the press is now capable of running 64-page sections with 16 of those pages in full color at a speed of 35,000 newspapers an hour.
In its ongoing effort to improve efficiency, RCI also added three additional splicers to its high-speed press. As rolls of paper run low, the splicers automatically switch the print feed to new rolls of paper.
The new cutting-edge equipment has been added to an existing press that was purchased in 2006 at company headquarters on 2 Endo Boulevard in Garden City. At the time, plans for expansion were already in place. That time has arrived.
"It's gratifying to see that something we planned for when we originally installed the press almost three years ago fall right into place as expected," said Michael Bologna, RCI's vice president of operations. "I'm happy we had the foresight at the time. It's nice to see a plan come together."
"We feel strongly that there is a future in the printed product on a local level," Richner said. "It's not that our society no longer has a taste for news, just the opposite. The average person wants and needs more information and news than ever before. It's a matter of where they go to find the news.
"National news has become somewhat of a commodity. Our local news is not, it is unique to each of the communities we serve," he added, "We have content that you can't find on the Internet. The community news business is the sweet spot of the newspaper industry.
"Our employees have enabled us to continue to excel at what we do, allowing us to invest and grow for the future," Richner said.
Richner also said he is proud to continue the company's tradition of purchasing American-made equipment. The new color tower was manufactured in Pennsylvania by Manugraph DGM.
RCI is a full-service web printer that provides full graphics, printing, mailing and distribution. The company prides itself on green technologies, including printing with soy-based inks and paper with recycled content.
RCI provides tours to student and community groups every Thursday. If you are interested, contact jzamrazil@liherald.com.
