The Independent has invested 600,000 in a pre-press studio as part of its move towards autonomy from Mirror Group Newspapers.


"We'll be running fully digital by the new year," said deputy head of production Steve Penny. The deal includes five CreoScitex EverSmart Supreme flatbed scanners, OneVision Asura and Solvero file optimisation software, WAM!NET digital file transfer and a suite of G4 Macs.


The firm has left Canary Wharf and moved into premises at Marsh Wall near London Arena.


Printing is still carried out by Mirror Group sites in Watford and Oldham. Digital files are transmitted to The Mirror at Canary Wharf for piggyback transmission to the print sites.


As well as the daily editions of The Independent, the new site houses production for four weekend supplements and The Independent's magazines including Nine-to-Five and Girl About Town, which have moved from central London.


The five CreoScitex scanners were supplied by MCSi and join two Fuji C-550 Lanovia scanners, which are used for copydot work. "This is one of - if not the - biggest UK scanner installation of ours," said CreoScitex marketing manager Maria Machera.


Story by Barney Cox