Transcontinental, the Canadian company that plans to build a $200 million plant in Fremont to print the Chronicle, says it is talking to other daily newspapers about their printing their papers too. Transcon didn’t identify those other dailies in its third-quarter earnings report but MediaNews is a likely customer.

Transcon said its planning for the plant is on schedule, the presses have already been ordered and construction will start this fall. The 338,000-square-foot plant, to be located on Kato Road, is scheduled to begin printing the Chronicle in the spring of 2009 when the newspaper’s contract with its 237 Teamster printers expires. Transcon said it has launched a program called “Talent Greenhouse” consisting of group of 20 Transcon employees selected to work on the hiring of employees for the Chronicle project. The Chronicle and Transcon have said the 15-year printing contract is worth $1 billlion.