14-Dec-2009
Alyaum Printing Complex, a subsidiary of Dar Alyaum (Alyaum Media House), in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, has been named the first company in the Middle East to have the ProcessStandards Offset (PSO-ISO 12647-2) certification from Ugra, the ‘Association for the Promotion of Research in the Graphic Arts Industry’ which operates the ‘Swiss Center of Competence for Media and Printing Technology’.

Al-Humeidan

The latest recognition adds a feather in the cap of the print house which in January 2007 was certified as the second printing plant in the world to pass the ISO 12647-3 coldset print quality certification from IFRA.
Saleh Bin Ali Al Humeidan, General Manager, Alyaum Printing Complex, said, “At Alyaum, our main goal is to offer our customers high quality products, and therefore we have tried to employ world-class staff and acquire high quality equipment to measure and analyse quality, which in turn has helped us become the second press across the world that has attained the ISO 12647-3 certificate in newspaper printing; furthermore, we are a holder of the ISO 9001 certificate in work stages and document management.”
Alyaum is looking at sustained growth through investment in new technology and equipment. Among the recent acquisitions of machines, a Heidelberg 8 colour Speed Mater 102 was installed earlier in 2009. The company is using the latest available resources for distribution of Alyaum Newspaper; some of the new measures include increasing the capability and size of the distribution team, using modern technology such as RFID to monitor distribution and follow the timely delivery of the newspaper to each subscriber and each outlet, and developing a highly efficient transportation fleet.
Al Humeidan agrees that although the newspaper has not faced a decline in readership, print advertising has shrunk in KSA because of cost cutting measures adopted by banks, real estate and automobile companies.
Commenting on how the company is standing up to the challenges posed by the growing influence of the Internet as a medium for news, the director said, “At present, the majority of newspapers have online editions; however, they do not have a negative impact on print circulations or readerships. On the contrary, in our case, there has been a steady increase in the printed quantities of Alyaum Newspaper every year.”
Commenting on emerging newspaper publishing techniques Al Humeidan is of the opinion that customization is an effective tool if the advertisement or content is worded appropriately by considering the nature, traits, and culture of the members of the target group. However, he points out that such methods have not yet been adopted in the country despite its large number of nationalities.
“Digital printing of newspapers will depend on factors such as the nature and size of the printed material and the number of readers. Adopting this technology will require a thorough study across various markets,” he concluded.