Baltimore Sun editions for Jan. 31 being printed at Sun Park. The press units at Sun Park can print 75,000 papers an hour.

Baltimore Sun editions for Jan. 31 being printed at Sun Park. The press units at Sun Park can print 75,000 papers an hour. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)

Final Sun Park press run | PHOTOS

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Baltimore Sun Media printed its last copies of the newspaper at its Port Covington plant Sunday. The company is moving those functions to The News Journal's printing plant in Wilmington, Delaware. The Baltimore Sun opened Sun Park in 1992, but the circulation of the print newspaper has declined in recent years, even as digital subscriptions have grown, and the plant’s size now dwarfs The Sun’s needs. Workers at the Delaware plant will print and insert advertising into The Baltimore Sun, The Capital of Annapolis, the Carroll County Times and other affiliated publications. The Sun joins a growing roster of newspapers that have closed their printing plants and moved printing to other publications’ presses, including the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Tampa Bay Times and The Kansas City Star, to save costs and invest in digital growth. The changes with printing and inserting will not affect The Sun’s journalism or its ability to meet the needs of advertisers, the company said. Home delivery and retail sales of the newspapers also will not be affected. More than 100 people will lose their jobs as a result of the change though some of those workers will remain at the Baltimore plant to decommission the presses and perform other duties during the next several months. Eligible employees are receiving severance.

Pressman Montre Simpson, a 26-year veteran of The Baltimore Sun, checks a copy of the Jan. 31 edition of the newspaper. This is the last issue to be printed at Sun Park in Port Covington. Future copies of the newspaper will be printed in Delaware.

Pressman Montre Simpson, a 26-year veteran of The Baltimore Sun, checks a copy of the Jan. 31 edition of the newspaper. This is the last issue to be printed at Sun Park in Port Covington. Future copies of the newspaper will be printed in Delaware. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

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Alvinia Crowell stacks a bundle of Jan. 31 editions of The Baltimore Sun. The Sun started printing at Sun Park in Port Covington in January 1992. Before then, it was printed at 501 N. Calvert St.

Alvinia Crowell stacks a bundle of Jan. 31 editions of The Baltimore Sun. The Sun started printing at Sun Park in Port Covington in January 1992. Before then, it was printed at 501 N. Calvert St. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)

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Daniel Royal checks copies of Jan. 31 editions of The Baltimore Sun for quality control. Printing operations were moved to Sun Park in 1992 so that the newspaper could be printed in color.

Daniel Royal checks copies of Jan. 31 editions of The Baltimore Sun for quality control. Printing operations were moved to Sun Park in 1992 so that the newspaper could be printed in color. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)

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Baltimore Sun editions for Jan. 31 being printed at Sun Park. The press units at Sun Park can print 75,000 papers an hour.

Baltimore Sun editions for Jan. 31 being printed at Sun Park. The press units at Sun Park can print 75,000 papers an hour. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)

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Editions for the Jan. 31 Baltimore Sun on the presses in Port Covington. The Sun has been printed at various locations throughout the city including at Charles and Baltimore streets until Dec 24, 1950. It then moved to Calvert Street and then Sun Park.

Editions for the Jan. 31 Baltimore Sun on the presses in Port Covington. The Sun has been printed at various locations throughout the city including at Charles and Baltimore streets until Dec 24, 1950. It then moved to Calvert Street and then Sun Park. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)

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Pressman Daniel Royal puts on printing plates for the Jan. 31 editions of The Baltimore Sun. Royal has been working for The Sun since 1996.

Pressman Daniel Royal puts on printing plates for the Jan. 31 editions of The Baltimore Sun. Royal has been working for The Sun since 1996. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)

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Pressman Daniel Royal puts on the printing plates for The Baltimore Sun's Jan. 31 editions.

Pressman Daniel Royal puts on the printing plates for The Baltimore Sun's Jan. 31 editions. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)

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The first issue of The Sun was printed at a small plant at 21 Light St. in 1837 when the newspaper was founded. Within a year, it had outgrown that plant. It was then moved to the corner of Baltimore and Gay streets. In 1851 The Sun began occupying the Iron Building at Baltimore and South streets. It spent more than 50 years there before the Great Baltimore Fire ravaged the building on Feb. 7, 1904. The paper made arrangements to use the Washington Evening Star plant to keep delivering the news. For two months, The Sun was printed there while the paper worked to get a new building ready. The Sun was then printed at Baltimore and Charles streets until it moved to Calvert Street in 1950. It was printed there until Sun Park opened in 1992.

The first issue of The Sun was printed at a small plant at 21 Light St. in 1837 when the newspaper was founded. Within a year, it had outgrown that plant. It was then moved to the corner of Baltimore and Gay streets. In 1851 The Sun began occupying the Iron Building at Baltimore and South streets. It spent more than 50 years there before the Great Baltimore Fire ravaged the building on Feb. 7, 1904. The paper made arrangements to use the Washington Evening Star plant to keep delivering the news. For two months, The Sun was printed there while the paper worked to get a new building ready. The Sun was then printed at Baltimore and Charles streets until it moved to Calvert Street in 1950. It was printed there until Sun Park opened in 1992. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)

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Baltimore Sun Media's Sun Park printing press, shown in operation, opened in 1992.

Baltimore Sun Media's Sun Park printing press, shown in operation, opened in 1992. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)

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Mike Ball, a pressman in the printing plant, pulls a freshly printed paper off the conveyor for a quality control check.

Mike Ball, a pressman in the printing plant, pulls a freshly printed paper off the conveyor for a quality control check. (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)

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Conveyor belts carry the printed papers to the packaging area.

Conveyor belts carry the printed papers to the packaging area. (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)

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The reelroom houses rolls of newsprint that each weigh 1 ton. The rolls are moved by robotic units called AGVs. The AGVs move the paper to and from the press.

The reelroom houses rolls of newsprint that each weigh 1 ton. The rolls are moved by robotic units called AGVs. The AGVs move the paper to and from the press. (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun )

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Newsprint was moved on this railroad track at The Baltimore Sun plant in Port Covington.

Newsprint was moved on this railroad track at The Baltimore Sun plant in Port Covington. (Jim Burger/Baltimore Sun)

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A model of the Port Covington development is seen at the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors show at the Convention Center in 1989. The Baltimore Sun’s plant is in the upper left.

A model of the Port Covington development is seen at the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors show at the Convention Center in 1989. The Baltimore Sun’s plant is in the upper left. (Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun )

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From left, Mayor Kurt Schmoke, Reg Murphy, Gov. William Donald Schaefer and CSX Realty CEO Richard Beadles at a groundbreaking ceremony for new Baltimore Sun plant at Port Covington in November 1988.

From left, Mayor Kurt Schmoke, Reg Murphy, Gov. William Donald Schaefer and CSX Realty CEO Richard Beadles at a groundbreaking ceremony for new Baltimore Sun plant at Port Covington in November 1988. (Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun)

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Trucks unload first sections of new printing presses on North Calvert Street. The $25 million installation, ordered in 1978 from the Goss division of Rockwell, were printing the newspapers by late 1981.

Trucks unload first sections of new printing presses on North Calvert Street. The $25 million installation, ordered in 1978 from the Goss division of Rockwell, were printing the newspapers by late 1981. (Lew Bush/Check with Baltimore Sun Photo)

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People gather in The Baltimore Sun pressroom in 1951.

People gather in The Baltimore Sun pressroom in 1951. (Ellis Malashuk/Baltimore Sun)

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Vans are parked outside of the Sunpapers building in 1954.

Vans are parked outside of the Sunpapers building in 1954. (William Klender, Baltimore Sun file photo)

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The Baltimore Sun building at 501 N. Calvert St. is seen from Guilford Avenue in 1949.

The Baltimore Sun building at 501 N. Calvert St. is seen from Guilford Avenue in 1949. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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Employees work on the newspaper at the Sunpapers building on Calvert Street.

Employees work on the newspaper at the Sunpapers building on Calvert Street. (William Klender, Baltimore Sun file photo)

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Alvin Highkin pulls a pallet of papers through the Baltimore Sun mailroom on Calvert Street.

Alvin Highkin pulls a pallet of papers through the Baltimore Sun mailroom on Calvert Street. (Baltimore Sun)

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A man works at the Sunpapers building on Calvert Street.

A man works at the Sunpapers building on Calvert Street. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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People watch a man work at Sunpapers Building on Calvert Street.

People watch a man work at Sunpapers Building on Calvert Street. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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Frank Jackson, a Sunpapers employee, holds a stack of papers.

Frank Jackson, a Sunpapers employee, holds a stack of papers. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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Donald McFarlane works on the Linotype machine in the Sunpapers composing room in 1974.

Donald McFarlane works on the Linotype machine in the Sunpapers composing room in 1974. (Carl D. Harris, Baltimore Sun file photo)

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The last Linotype machine sits in the Sunpapers composing room in 1977.

The last Linotype machine sits in the Sunpapers composing room in 1977. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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Lou D'Adamo discusses ad makeup with Vin Milando. Others include Donald Fawcett, Robert Fields, and Sam Simkin in the Sunpapers composing room.

Lou D'Adamo discusses ad makeup with Vin Milando. Others include Donald Fawcett, Robert Fields, and Sam Simkin in the Sunpapers composing room. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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New presses are installed at the Baltimore Sun building on Calvert Street in 1966.

New presses are installed at the Baltimore Sun building on Calvert Street in 1966. (Baltimore Sun)

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Composing the paper in the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles Streets.

Composing the paper in the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles Streets. (Baltimore Sun)

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Page makeup at the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles Streets in 1951.

Page makeup at the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles Streets in 1951. (Baltimore Sun)

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Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1949.

Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1949. (Baltimore Sun)

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Composing the paper in the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1948.

Composing the paper in the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1948. (Baltimore Sun)

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Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1942.

Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1942. (Baltimore Sun)

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The Sunpapers’ pressroom at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1942.

The Sunpapers’ pressroom at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1942. (Baltimore Sun)

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Making plates at the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets.

Making plates at the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets. (Baltimore Sun)

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The Sunpapers’ pressroom at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1933.

The Sunpapers’ pressroom at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1933. (Baltimore Sun)

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Composing the paper in the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1930.

Composing the paper in the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1930. (Baltimore Sun)

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Delivery trucks are parked by the Baltimore Sun building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1930.

Delivery trucks are parked by the Baltimore Sun building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1930. (Baltimore Sun)

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Presses run at the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1929.

Presses run at the Sunpapers’ building at Baltimore and Charles streets in 1929. (Baltimore Sun)

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Sunpapers’ newsboy Ferdinand Pensel delivers a paper in 1928.

Sunpapers’ newsboy Ferdinand Pensel delivers a paper in 1928. (Baltimore Sun)

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