The Miller Group has invested e2.5 million in the latest, state-of-the-art digital printing technology with Kodak USA as its partners, and, in the process, has created the first digital newspaper site in Europe and the world’s largest in terms of titles and daily production volumes.

The Financial Times (FT), leaders and innovators in latest technology, has supported the development from its earliest stages, as it is interested in implementing this technology in other locations, delivering improved customer service and further environmental benefits.

The development also means the FT print edition will be available at 3am daily, meeting increased demand from retailers, subscribers and hotels keen to make bulk purchases.

Following Malta, the FT is also looking to implement the digital technology in other locations such as Helsinki and Moscow, delivering improved customer service and further environmental benefits.

The project was launched earlier this week at a dinner commemorating the printing of the Financial Times in Malta, attended by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Martin Dickson, deputy editor of the Financial Times, Adrian Clarke, publisher of the Financial Times Europe, and Ian Denhard, FT’s Director of Logistics and Circulation. Jack Knadjian and Mick Jackson represented Kodak. Guests also included leading professionals and businessmen, hosted by Malcolm Miller, CEO of Miller Distributors.

Mr Clarke commented: “The Financial Times continues to invest in its products to meet the needs of an audience that consumes on and offline media in different ways. Our strategy is to be channel-neutral, providing our journalism to readers and subscribers in formats that best suit their needs.”

In his address, Mr Miller said the ability to print even very short runs enabled his company to have a large portfolio of newspaper titles from around the world printed and delivered to readers before breakfast – sometimes even earlier than they reach readers in their country of publication. So far, apart from the Financial Times, some 12 international titles are being printed with a further 18 scheduled to start in the coming weeks. There are plans for Miller to roll out this technology to other locations.

“Apart from the improved reader service and the unique convenience to visitors to Malta, this technology allows significant environmental benefits of reduced carbon footprint resulting from a reduction in flying newspapers – estimated to be the equivalent to emissions of circa 3,500 cars on our roads,” said Mr Miller. “The newsprint used is almost exclusively recycled further reducing any environmental impact. This latest technology is a quantum leap from the traditional noisy and dirty printing environment and the whole process is performed in a high-tech, clean and almost silent office environment.”

In his speech, Dr Gonzi remarked, “By embracing technology as a country we have managed to transform natural disadvantages into comparative advantages. Our successful efforts in ensuring that Malta truly becomes a regional centre of excellence in ICT are evidenced by numerous international benchmarking studies conducted by reputable organisations such as the European Commission and the World Economic Forum, which consistently place Malta among the global front-runners. This has continued making Malta an attractive investment destination as highlighted by investment attractiveness surveys and the flow of foreign investment in this sector. In addition to this direct effect, ICT and technology infrastructure is an important enabler for the development of other sectors in our economy.

“The success of the financial services industry in Malta is a case in point. With financial services and transactions being carried out all over the globe, the availability of a reliable technological and communications infrastructure becomes crucial not only to sustain the present industry but above all is important for its future development. The massive strides achieved in ICT infrastructure have also led to the fast development of the international financial services industry here in Malta and is becoming a regional financial centre of repute.”