North Central Printing’s new newspaper plant could be fit to print by the end of the month.

Sue Steinke, plant manager, said just some minor construction, electrical work and painting remain to be completed at the plant located along Viking Drive in Rugby.

Of course, moving the four large Goss press units from the existing plant located near the Industrial Park to the new building is the big challenge, and it will require a hired team of pressmen, Steinke said.

In addition to the four units to be placed in the plant’s new press bay, three more units will be added. That will enable the weekly newspapers to publish larger sections and have more color options on their pages. The new plant, which is close in square footage to the existing one, does have some new features, including heated floors, high ceilings, a conference room and more storage for newsprint.

North Central Printing has six full-time employees, including three press operators.

The plant prints about a dozen weekly newspapers, as well as inserts and other special publications. Construction on the new plant began in August.



AIS, UAP pull out of Rugby

Arizona-based Affiliated Insurance Solutions (AIS) closed its Rugby office late last month.

AIS, which defined itself as a business-to-consumer agency that delivers Web-based insurance information to individuals, was open less than a year. The business is based in Mesa, Arizona. No one could be reached for comment about the closing of its local office.

United Agri Products (UAP) recently closed its Rugby office. The business specialized in chemical, seed and fertilizer products for ag producers. In May of 2008, the business merged with Agrium, Inc. No one could be reached for comment about the office closing.

Both businesses had offices located in the Great Plains Plaza along U.S. Highway 2 west.