SYNOPSIS

THE Star was established in the year 1971 and over the years, it has risen to become Malaysia’s leading English newspaper. Every day, roughly 300,000 copies of The Star are printed and circulated around the country. The Star has two main printing plants - the Northern Hub in Bayan Lepas, Penang, and the Star Media Hub in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam. There is also a third printing plant in Sarawak.

Technology has played an important role in the production of newspapers. Rolls of paper which weigh 1.5 to 1.7 tonnes each can be easily stacked with the help of forklifts. This enables space to be saved and more rolls of paper can be stored in a smaller area.

To begin production of newspapers, printing plates have to be made first. These plates are used to transfer words and images onto paper. Special machines with violet lasers are then used for imaging of the plates. About eight plates are used to print one page - two plates for each colour (four inks are used: cyan, magenta, yellow and black). All these plates will be recycled at the end of the day.

Computers ease the job when it comes to adding colour to the papers. Designers only have to design the pages and the computers will determine the amount of each colour that is required to obtain a specific final colour. When it comes to printing, machines with motors are now being used instead of machines with shafts. Back then, the machine would not function if one of the shafts was spoiled. Now, even if one of the motors is spoiled, the machines can still function.