Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has decided to abolish its Paper & Printing Machinery Division and establish a new company dedicated to printing and paper converting machinery operations effective July 1, 2010. The new company will belong to MHI's Machinery and Steel Structures Headquarters. Specifically the new wholly owned subsidiary will integrate MHI's current operations in printing and paper converting machinery with those of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Paper Converting Machinery Sales Co., Ltd., which now handles related sales and after-sales services. Through this integration MHI aims to form a streamlined, resilient business structure capable of responding to changes in today's severe market environment. With this initiative MHI looks to compete successfully against other companies specialized in this area.

The new company will be established by transferring MHI's current printing and paper converting machinery operations to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Paper Converting Machinery Sales. The new enterprise will handle all business relating to printing and paper converting machinery - including commercial-use printing presses (sheet-fed offset presses, web offset presses, etc.) and paper converting machinery - from design, manufacture and procurement to marketing, quality assurance and after-sales services.

The printing and paper converting machinery market was comparatively firm until last year's global economic crisis. With the crisis, capital investment has dropped sharply and is not expected to recover in the short term. In order to overcome this severe change in the business environment, and also to expand sales in emerging markets, the establishment of a streamlined, resilient company dedicated to this area of business has been a matter of urgent need for MHI.

MHI's Paper & Printing Machinery Division, part of the company's Mass & Medium-Lot Manufactured Machinery segment, has supplied printing machinery and paper converting machinery to the printing and packaging industries of Japan and abroad as a leading brand. Going forward the new company will carry out even more dynamic strategies for product development and localized marketing that will precisely respond to today's increasingly diversified customer needs.

MHI intends to work closely with the new company and thoroughly support its business development.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has decided to undertake a thorough revamping of its printing machinery sales and service structures in Europe. Printing machinery sales/service activities until now overseen by two dedicated local subsidiaries – MLP UK Ltd. (MLP-UK) and MLP Europe S.A. (MLP-E) in France – will henceforth be managed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Europe, Ltd. (MHIE) as part of its business operations. At the same time, MHIE will broaden the distributorship network throughout Europe. MHI, acting in response to current market conditions , opted to establish a slimmer, more solid business structure in order to secure profits firmly and manage its network dynamically. The new business structure will go into operation this month. In tandem with this initiative, MLP-UK and MLP-E will be liquidated.

Until now, MHI's printing machinery business in Europe has been carried out by MLP-UK undertaking direct sales to UK customers and MLP-E conducting sales in France and other countries on the Continent through either direct sales or a distributor network. In view of the recent economic crisis and its impact on demand through the foreseeable future, MHI decided to abolish direct sales in the region as a way to reduce fixed costs and minimize business risk tied to economic fluctuations, and in its place to adopt a structure of sales and service activities performed through local distributors . To manage the distributorships, a new printing machinery division is being established within MHIE.

The new division, which will serve as the new headquarters of MHI's printing business in Europe, is located in Leeds, a major city in West Yorkshire. Initially, the new division will focus on the promotion and expansion of the distributorship system. It will also aim to attract demand by introducing new sheet-fed offset press models . Plans also call for enhancement of operational efficiency by integrating the showroom and European parts center , and increased sales of parts as a major and stable source of revenue, to be achieved by increasing the number of items that can be delivered immediately on demand.

The fiercely competitive European market, despite its current difficulties, is still a major market accounting for near one-fourth of global sales . With the launch of its new structure, MHI will be solidly positioned to pursue more dynamic business developments and establish a solid business base within this vital market.

The DIAMOND 16MAX⁺S, a new commercial web offset press from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, recently achieved a high honor: Award of The Japan Society of Industrial Machinery Manufacturers at the 39th Industrial Machinery Design Awards sponsored by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd. (Business & Technology Daily News).

In October of last year, Mitsubishi launched the DIAMOND 16MAX⁺S Series - a new lineup of commercial web offset presses designed to improve production efficiency and help ease the shortage of skilled press operators, a growing problem among Japanese web printing houses. The key feature of the DIAMOND 16MAX⁺S is its ultimate "one-button operation." With this feature ideally targeting the growing number of small-lot multiple job variations, all printing operations from startup to print completion can be executed with a minimal amount of manual involvement.

The DIAMOND 16MAX⁺S is the first press ever to incorporate the following automated devices and mechanisms: MAX SimulChanger - a fully automatic high-speed plate changing system capable of changing plates at all colors in approximately one minute; a high-speed stream delivery 4/8-page module capable of direct product output from transfer belt to conveyor without delivery fans; MAX DIAMOND EYE - a color bar-less inline printing quality control system; and MAX Pre-Cut - a printing startup control function that eliminates cumbersome manual operation by automating cutoff alignment.

From a design standpoint, the exterior of the DIAMOND 16MAX⁺S brings comfort into the work environment by adopting smooth rounded forms without the overbearing equipment so common in conventional commercial web press plants. The design is an extension of the "soft geometric" concept first adopted in the DIAMOND V3000 line of Mitsubishi sheet-fed offset presses, which won Japan's Good Design Gold Award in 2008.

In essence, Mitsubishi in designing the DIAMOND 16MAX⁺S has merged the unique sensitivity of Japanese designs with the warmth and simplicity of Scandinavian forms. Also included is the adoption of the multifunction LED beams along the side of the units that instantly display printing unit status through a series of multi-colored lights and flashing patterns. This feature facilitates safe operation even in remote locations.

Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun established the Industrial Machinery Design Award in 1970 to commemorate the 55th anniversary of its inaugural publication. With sponsorship from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and co-sponsorship from the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and respective Industrial Federations, the award seeks to promote the advancement and development of industrial design in Japan. In the 39 years leading up to the 2009 award presentation, a host of pioneering designs expected to forge future directions in coming years have been recognized. The design candidates for the Industrial Machinery Design Award are mainly manufactured goods, and the main criteria are product quality and safety. Another essential element in selecting the winners is to clarify the modality of designs for performance improvement and industrial promotion in a new era. In addition to evaluation from overall perspectives such as economy and marketability, features such as ergonomic safety and suitability for welfare and the environment have recently taken on more prominence in the selection process.

In earlier years, awards have been conferred on three other Mitsubishi printing presses: the Design Award in 1983 for the 28-inch Mitsubishi 1E sheet-fed offset press, the Special Award in 2003 for the DIAMOND 16MAX Series, and the Award of The Japan Society of Industrial Machinery Manufacturers last year for the DIAMOND V3000 series. The DIAMOND 16MAX⁺S is Mitsubishi's fourth award-winning printing press.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Paper & Printing Machinery Division has succeeded in commercializing an LED-UV ink-drying system for medium-sized (DIAMOND V3000 Series) sheet-fed offset presses that accommodate sheets up to 1,050mm (41-11/32 inches) wide. The company has already begun taking orders for the epoch-making system, which enables reductions in electricity consumption by 70 to 80% compared with conventional UV ink-drying systems.

The LED-UV system represents leading technology highly suited for today's printing industry as it pursues higher productivity and greater efficiency in energy consumption. While the LED-UV drying system was previously introduced at IGAS 2007 and drupa 2008 on smaller sheet-fed presses (sheet size up to 720mm [28-3/8 inches] wide), application for the larger sheet-fed presses remained a challenge.

Rising to this challenge, Mitsubishi energetically engaged in the technological development of the larger system in cooperation with an LED system supplier and special LED-UV ink manufacturer. Recently Mitsubishi completed successful testing of the LED-UV ink-drying system in general commercial applications. Outstanding results were also achieved in the world's first commercial application of the system on the company's one-pass DIAMOND V3000TP tandem perfector press.

With the LED-UV ink-drying system, printers will realize considerable energy savings resulting from the low-electricity consumption feature. The reduced drying time associated with UV printing also means the job can be transferred immediately to the finishing process and in turn delivered quicker to the customer.

Compared to existing UV ink-drying systems, the LED-UV ink-drying system not only enables significant reductions in electricity consumption but also makes exhaust ducting unnecessary as it does not generate ozone. In addition, the LED-UV system provides such advantages as: lower heat generation for fewer adverse effects on print materials and printing presses; instant light on/off capability; and longer operational life - as much as 15 times longer than conventional UV lamps. For these and other beneficial features, the LED-UV ink-drying system continues to draw widespread industry attention.

Looking forward, Mitsubishi will continue to pursue the development of further advantages that realize significant reductions in and higher added value to the printing process, while simultaneously responding to the essential social demand for cleaner environments.

Shaftless conversion project retains existing RTPs

Twenty years ago, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries installed two press lines at the Sakaide Plant of The Yomiuri Shimbun. Eight years later, with the increasing demands for more pages and more color, Mitsubishi added a five-over-four color tower unit and corresponding RTP to both lines. Recently, Mitsubishi replaced the first of the two shaft-driven press lines with the new shaftless-drive DIAMONDSPACE, retaining the existing five RTPs and automatic reel loading system. Replacement work was completed on schedule, and the press line is now in commercial operation.

The Yomiuri Shimbun, boasting the world's largest newspaper circulation, awarded Mitsubishi the renewal/replacement project at the Sakaide Plant in March 2008. The order follows similar projects undertaken at the publisher's four press lines in its downtown Tokyo Koto Plant in 2003, as well as at its Tosu Plant in western part of Japan in 2007.

The first of the two press lines at the Sakaide Plant is configured with two 4/4 tower printing units, two 2/1 tower printing units, one 2/2 tower printing unit, one double 2:2 rotary folder and the five existing RTPs, which were mechanically and electrically modified to match the new 75,000 cph DIAMONDSPACE press line. The press has also been equipped with the Mitsubishi DIAMOND-EYE Automatic Print Quality Control System.

In addition to conversion from the shaft to shaftless drive system, another key element of this project was the uninterrupted operation of the second press line, which continued daily commercial operations, while modifications and replacements were safely and timely carried out on the first press line. Work on the second press line will be undertaken in the same manner and is expected to be completed in October of this year.

The reuse of existing RTPs results not only in equipment cost savings, but also eliminates the requirement for new foundation work and significantly shortens the overall press installation time.

In light of the severe downturn within the newspaper industry, Mitsubishi anticipates an increase in these types of plant renewal projects and will aggressively apply its extensive experience in order to gain additional orders.

World's first in-line quality control system for newspaper offset presses

In 2003, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries began the development of an automatic print quality color control system known as the "DIAMOND-EYE." Since its commercial launch two years later, sales of this in-line system for newspaper presses have continued to grow, reaching a level today that totals 47 different installations.

Included among these installations are two recent orders received from The Yomiuri Shimbun, which boasts the world's largest circulation, and six orders from Japan's largest regional newspaper, The Chunichi Shimbun. All users of the DIAMOND-EYE, which also include The Nikkei and The Sankei Shimbun, have large daily circulations ranging from three to ten million copies.

The DIAMOND-EYE in-line quality control system is the world's first automatic color matching process for color printing of newspapers, which in the past relied solely upon the experience and skill of the press operator. This new technology in newspaper printing measures actual printing density using high-speed scanning sensors and compares this data to image density target values based on plate making data. Calculated variations are then compensated through inking adjustments input automatically. In addition to maintaining high-quality uniform printing from the beginning of the run up to the end, the automated capability also contributes to energy savings and reduced paper waste.

The DIAMOND-EYE has already received the Technical Section Award and Technical Development Award from the Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association and the Technical Award from the Japanese Society of Printing Science and Technology. The cutting-edge technologies found in this in-line system include the high-speed sensors capable of scanning the entire web width and Mitsubishi's independently developed ink key control software. These and other sophisticated technologies make precise density control far more precise and far faster than any other comparable system on the market today.

Declining advertisement revenues, decreasing circulations and increasing newsprint costs are but a few of the many factors contributing to the severe downturn at newspapers around the globe. In Japan, the DIAMOND-EYE is helping to meet the needs of newspaper publishers by reducing paper waste, operator skill levels and the number of press operators required.

Demand for the DIAMOND-EYE is expected to continue expanding and while Mitsubishi's supply record for this system is currently limited to Japan, the company expects to see an equally growing interest at newspapers around the world.

Printing defect detection screen		Density control monitor screen at OK sheet
Image sensor

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries recently hosted a two-day Open House event to showcase the simultaneous printing of two different products on a newspaper press. The event was conducted in Mitsubishi's newspaper press assembly shop located at the company's Paper & Printing Machinery Division in Hiroshima, Japan on 29 and 30 January, and drew more than 100 visitors from newspaper publishers across the country.

Using Mitsubishi's popular DIAMONDSPIRIT 4 x 1 newspaper offset press equipped with the Printplex function, live demonstrations unveiled the simultaneous printing of two products on one press. Printplex has been compared to the multi-screen cinema concept or cineplex, where maximum utilization - seating in the case of the theater and printing units in the case of the press - is achieved.

Mitsubishi's exclusive Printplex offers newspaper publishers a number of unique advantages designed to turn production plants into viable production centers. Topping this list is the wider degree of production flexibility afforded in running two different products at the same time. Production costs and time savings are also realized by utilizing printing units during the simultaneous printing of two-product run that might otherwise be idle. With Printplex, the possibility of reducing the number of press lines in a multiple press production plant becomes a real possibility. And when investment costs are considered, the outlay for a double folder is considerably less than for two independent folders.

The main technologies surrounding Printplex involves independent drives for the operation side and drive sides of the folder; balloon former with a second RTF; a patent-pending independent speed control within the same press; and patent-pending independent operation panel controls within the same press.

The DIAMONDSPIRIT press with Printplex was configured with two T44 tower units, two T22 tower units, one double rotary 2:2 folder and four RTP. Each live press demo began with a routine 28-page newspaper production run at maximum speed. After the press was shut down, plate changes and webbing for two different products - a 24-page job and 4-page job - were initiated. The next aspect of the demonstration began with the 24-page production run at the speed of 70,000 cph, followed by the start-up of the 4-page job running at 50,000 cph. With the two jobs running simultaneously, both independent productions were slowed and then stopped individually. Each demonstration was performed flawlessly and all in attendance lauded this world's first, epoch-making operation.

The DIAMONDSPIRIT with Printplex highlighted at the Open House is one of four press lines scheduled for delivery to Nikkan Sports Printing in Tokyo. The presses are slated to commence commercial operations beginning with the first line in April 2009 and the fourth in September 2010.

Ceremony marks completion of new Onomichi Plant

The Yomiuri Shimbun with the world's largest circulation of approximately 10 million copies daily recently hosted a celebration to commemorate the completion and start-up of their newest printing plant located in Onomichi City, Hiroshima. Mitsubishi completed installation of two press lines of the widely popular 4 x 2 DIAMONDSTAR at the Onomichi Plant in October in a configuration comprising ten tower printing units, two double rotary folders and ten 3-arm reel tension pasters.

The event was attended by Hitoshi Uchiyama, president of The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings and Hideaki Omiya, president of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. In addition to other senior executives on hand from both companies, local distinguished guests included Hiroshima Governor Yuzan Fujita and Onomichi Mayor Yuko Hiratani. All in attendance expressed their highest expectations of the new Onomichi Plant and lauded the high 90,000 cph operating speed and printing quality of the two new Mitsubishi press lines.

The DIAMONDSTAR presses at Onomichi, equipped with Mitsubishi's well-proven automatic print quality color control system - the DIAMOND- EYE, will produce a daily circulation of around 250,000 newspapers for delivery in Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane and Ehime Prefectures. The new facility is located along a major thoroughfare, ensuring the fastest delivery of the latest news.

The Onomichi Plant is also located in close proximity to the headquarters of Mitsubishi's Paper & Printing Machinery Division in Mihara City and can be reached in about 20 minutes by car. As the nearest customer installation to the press manufacturing plant, Mitsubishi is well positioned to provide the perfect service and maintenance structure.

With the start-up of the Onomichi Plant, the number of Mitsubishi DIAMONDSTAR presses first introduced in 2004 and in operation today has reached a level of 41 press lines comprising 210 tower units. Mitsubishi currently has backlog orders for eight more DIAMONDSTAR press lines with 40 tower units.

Shin-Nihonkai Newspaper, headquartered in Tottori City along the Sea of Japan has ordered the Mitsubishi DIAMONDSPIRIT newspaper press to replace its existing press lines. The sale marks the second order in Japan for Mitsubishi's high-speed 4 x 1 presses, following on the heels of the four press lines ordered recently by Nikkan Sports Printing.

Shin-Nihonkai Newspaper has been using single width newspaper presses to handle its production of the Nihonkai Shimbun, Osaka Nichinichi Shimbun and other newspapers with a daily total circulation of 200,000 copies. However, after carefully evaluating the Mitsubishi DIAMONDSPIRIT in terms of stable and reliable operating records and weighing the merits of 4 x 1 presses, the company decided to move away from single width presses and elected to go with the double width Mitsubishi DIAMONDSPIRIT.

The Mitsubishi DIAMONDSPIRIT press destined for Japan's second user will be configured with two four-over-four tower printing units, three two-over-one tower printing units, five 50-inch three-arm RTPs and one double rotary folder.

The press will be installed at Shin-Nihonkai's new plant in Tottori City and is scheduled to start production in November 2009.

Mitsubishi's newest sheet-fed offset press - the DIAMOND V3000 - is the recipient of yet another award; this time from the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization (JIDPO). In addition to being named one of the 1,067 Good Design Award 2008 winners chosen from among 3,023 entries announced by JIDPO on October 8th, the press also made the "Good Design Award Best 15" list and is one of just seven entries nominated for the "Good Design Grand Award." While other offset press manufacturers have won the Good Design Award in the past, Mitsubishi is the first to make the "Best 15" list and the first to be nominated for the Grand Award - the single most outstanding entry among all awarded entries, which will be announced on November 6, 2008.

The"Good Design Award" is Japan's only comprehensive design evaluation and commendation system, tracing its origins back to the "Good Design Selection System" instituted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1957. Having achieved a foundation to nurture the industry and design of Japan, many international participants also enter this annual competition to reap the benefits of the design evaluation system. Screening of this year's award was carried out with emphasis on the perspective of people who use the products and receive the services concerned. The winners, representing an array of diversified design fields, incorporate the viewpoint "images of life in the near future and designs that lead the way to next generation lifestyles."

In evaluating the DIAMOND V3000, the press was cited for a design based on the concept of "user friendly," less visually imposing, and with considerations for the press operator's psychological well-being and work environment. The press was designed based on the "soft geometric" concept and through adoption of special materials used in its fabrication achieves a truly stylish appearance with soft contours and curvatures throughout.

Earlier this year, the DIAMOND V3000 won the 38th Industrial Machinery Design Award presented by The Japan Society of Industrial Machinery Manufacturers.

Tokyo, October 2, 2008 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has developed a new commercial web offset press, the "DIAMOND 16 MAX⁺," for printing of commercial materials including magazines, pamphlets and newspaper advertising inserts. In developing the new press MHI targeted "one button operation," a concept to enable entire printing job operations and their management with the push of a single button by one operator without special skills. Based on this concept, the DIAMOND 16 MAX⁺ has achieved enhanced productivity and print quality while thoroughly pursuing easy and less skill-intensive operations. The press also reduces printing costs and enables shorter delivery time from order receipt to product printing. It adopts a Scandinavian design featuring simple functional beauty while simultaneously giving full attention to safety and compact size.

The DIAMOND 16 MAX⁺ will be available in a basic model that carries on the printing functions of the existing DIAMOND 16 MAX, and can be fitted with a number of automated features up to and including full automated functions. Various equipment options will be offered to address the demands of the market, such as the need for shorter make-ready time, reduced waste caused by printing imperfections, consistent print quality, and easier operation to cope with increasing numbers of younger, less-skilled operators. For enhanced safety, all models feature functions indicating the machine's operating status through illumination of three colored light-emitting diodes (LED).

The fully automated model boasts new functions fully utilizing digital information systems to reduce the operator's burden and enhance print quality by enabling management of entire print jobs - from plate changing to delicate adjustment of color density and images - without relying on the operator's expertise. Specifically, the systems equipped in the model include the following:

MAX DIAMOND EYE is a patch (color bar)-less inline quality controller that achieves fully automated color adjustments from the start to end of printing. Prepress image data is compared with the actual image data read by sensor, and color density is automatically adjusted. Together with startup control and good copy post-control functions, this feature enables considerable reductions in both printing time and waste.

MAX Color Navigator simplifies color adjustment by enabling automatic fine-tuning of colors - color density and image - a process that conventionally demands complex control of multiple color ink units. The operator is able to easily and quickly adjust the colors via touch-panel control, checking the colors and images displayed on the print image screen. In 2006 this system won the Technology Award of the Japanese Society of Printing Science and Technology.

MAX SimulChanger is MHI's new fully automatic high-speed plate changing system that enables fast and precise removal and mounting of all printing plates simultaneously, including plate cylinder repositioning, in less than 60 seconds - the world's fastest.

Scandinavian design, which pursues a refined, modern sense of style while focusing on simple functional beauty based on ergonomics, is regarded as the leading design mode by industrial designers worldwide. MHI has incorporated this design concept into its new printing presses with the adoption of boldly faceted, gentle rounded forms, while simultaneously achieving functional ease and outstanding safety.

Mitsubishi's Paper & Printing Machinery Division held a special ceremony on 12 August to mark the shipment of the company's 10,000th sheet-fed offset press. The press, a DIAMOND V3000LS-5 destined for Seikosha Printing in Tokyo, was loaded on four trucks bedecked in red and white streamers to mark this delivery milestone.

The company's first sheet-fed offset press, the "Super Byu" with a maximum sheet size of 820mm x 1120mm was delivered in October 1962 to Fukoku Printing in Tokyo. Mitsubishi reached its 1,000 press landmark in 1971 and the 5,000 press landmark in 1992.

Special guests on hand for the shipping ceremony included Seikosha Printing Company President Hiroshi Aoki, along with Senior EVP Hideo Egawa of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. They were welcomed by Fumio Wakisaka, senior vice-president and general manager of the Mitsubishi Paper and Printing Machinery Division.

Over the years Mitsubishi has launched a number of different sheet-fed press models beginning with the "ML series" manufactured under a technology-licensing agreement with Marinoni of France. The "DAIYA" series was introduced in 1967 and marked the company's first independently developed press. With the Mitsubishi "D series" launched in 1978, the company moved to individual printing units, each with double diameter impression and transfer cylinders in a "7 o'clock cylinder arrangement" which remains the standard configuration today.

Advances in mechatronic technologies led to the introduction of the Mitsubishi "E series" with its innovative ink key presetting system. The "F-Series" unveiled in 1988 represented an entirely new approach to printing and was the press that set many of today's industry-wide standards with the world's first automatic plate changing system, the world's first feeder and delivery automatic sheet size presetting system, and the world's first impression pressure presetting system. Several other models followed before Mitsubishi launched the completely redesigned "DIAMOND V3000 series" last fall.

The new DIAMOND V3000 Series first introduced at IGAS 2007 in Tokyo was developed under the concept of "Net Production Nets Profits" and targets a higher printing utilization rate. The simultaneous plate changing system "SimulChanger" and the revolutionary "DIAMOND Color Navigator" are but two of an array of features that helps achieve this objective.

Following the drupa introduction of the wide stock "LX" model, the dedicated tandem perfector "TP" model, and the convertible perfector "R" model, the factory has now been re-tooled for full production to meet the steadily increasing orders for this new press.

In reaching the 10,000 milestone, approximately 50% of the presses where sold over the past ten years with the demand for Mitsubishi sheet-fed presses increasing year by year. Overseas sales, too, have increased rapidly with nearly three times the number of presses being sold today then was sold just ten years ago.

One of Japan's leading local newspaper publishers - The Chugoku Shimbun - has ordered yet another 90,000 copies per hour Mitsubishi DIAMONDSTAR. Founded in 1892, The Chugoku Shimbun currently boasts a morning circulation of around 720,000 and an evening edition of about 100,000. On August 24, 2005, the newspaper issued its 40,000th edition, commemorating a 115 year history.

The Chugoku Shimbun is printed at three different printing plants. One of these plants is the Hiroshima Production Center where four sets of Mitsubishi DIAMONDSTAR newspaper presses have been in full production since October 2006. The company's Inokuchi Printing Plant houses two sets of Mitsubishi DIAMONDSPACE presses.

The recently ordered Mitsubishi DIAMONDSTAR press will be installed at the Hiroshima Production Center and will be in an identical configuration to the plant's existing lines. This configuration includes three four-over-four tower printing units, two two-over-one tower printing units, one double rotary folder (3:2 & 2:2), and five 50-inch independent three-arm RTPs.

The latest DIAMONDSTAR press ordered by Chugoku Shimbun is scheduled to enter commercial production in April 2009.

With this most recent order, the number of Mitsubishi DIAMONDSTAR presses sold to date following its 2004 introduction climbs to 38 sets and includes 200 tower units.

Nikkan Sports Printing Company, headquartered in Tsukiji, Tokyo recently became the first Japanese company to purchase the Mitsubishi DIAMONDSPIRIT. The company prints the widely popular Nikkan Sports, Japan'sb first sports-oriented daily newspaper which began publication back in 1946.

Nikkan Sports Printing sited the ability to reduce printing plate quantities by half as a leading factor in its decision to pursue the 4 x 1 DIAMONDSPIRIT. As no other company in Japan was operating a 4 x 1 press at the time, however, Nikkan Sports Printing undertook an extensive study before reaching its decision.

Their investigation began with a trip to India where they visited Kasturi & Sons, who operate three sets of Mitsubishi DIAMONDSPIRIT presses. Following the in-plant visit and discussions with key Kasturi & Sons production personnel, Nikkan Sports Printing became convinced that the DIAMONDSPIRT delivers the same outstanding printing quality and reliability as Mitsubishi's 4 x 2 presses.

With their concerns properly addressed, the company then placed the order for four sets of Mitsubishi DIAMONDSPIRIT newspaper offset presses.

Each press line consists of two four-over-four tower units, two two-over-two tower units, one double rotary 2:2 folder and four 50-inch 3-arm reelstands.

The presses will be delivered to the Tsukiji plant, which also houses the company's headquarters, with the first press slated to begin production in March 2009 and the fourth in September 2010.

Mitsubishi printing press models have now been recognized through this prestigious annual award three times. The other two presses were the Mitsubishi 1E sheet-fed offset press, which won the award in 1983, and more recently, the DIAMOND 16MAX commercial web press in 2003.

The new press model evolved through joint efforts of Mitsubishi's production and service department personnel who interface with customers on a regular basis. The result was a press that reflects the performance and functions demanded by customers in the competitive market of diversified small-lot print runs.

Under the theme of "Net Production Nets Profits," actual press availability time was increased, not by raising the maximum printing speed but by reducing makeready time and scheduled and routine maintenance time. The ease at which the new press can be operated also helps to realize further improvements in actual productivity.

The DIAMOND V3000 features a totally new look created in collaboration with Swedish industrial designers and the company's in-house press design engineers. Based on the "soft geometric" concept characteristic of Scandinavian design, ergonomic accents were realized through venturous cuttings and curvatures to enable outstanding access for press operators.

The Industrial Machinery Design Award is testament to Mitsubishi's goal of achieving a new smart look in sheet-fed presses that also deliver exceptional printing quality and press productivity.

The DIAMOND V3000LS model was first introduced at IGAS 2007 in Tokyo last fall. Drupa 2008 served as the venue for launching the wide stock range model DIAMOND V3000LX , Mitsubishi's unique Tandem Perfector model DIAMOND V3000TP, and a new convertible perfector model DIAMOND V3000R. All of the new models have been favorably viewed by the thousands of visitors from around the world who journeyed to these two major events.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Paper & Printing Machinery Division announced on 19 August 2008, the sale of another DIAMONDSPIRIT 4 x 1 [double width, single circumference and double-size blanket cylinders in blanket to blanket design] press to Kasturi & Sons Ltd., headquartered in Chennai, India. This latest order covers the fourth Mitsubishi DIAMONDSPIRIT press purchased by Kasturi & Sons and was received based on the successful operation of the three previously installed presses, the first of which started operations in 2005 and the other two in 2007.

Their first Mitsubishi DIAMONDSPIRIT was installed at the company's Hyderabad plant and has been operating favorably. The second and third DIAMONDSPIRIT presses were installed in a new plant constructed in Marai Malai Nagar located about 45km south of Chennai.

All three press lines are equipped with heatset dryers and produce excellent print quality. All color on these presses is produced heatset, including the main section and supplements of daily newspapers. High quality has been and continues to remain the top policy of Kasturi & Sons Ltd.

Kasturi & Sons Ltd. publishes a daily newspaper, The Hindu, with more than 1.3 million copies per day. In addition to The Hindu, the company also owns, publishes and prints a daily business newspaper, Business Line, a weekly sports magazine, Sportstar, and a fortnightly current affairs magazine, Frontline. The company operates with a staff of over 3,400, owns 12 printing plants located throughout India, and contracts work out to two additional plants.

The recent press order will be configured with two 4-over-4 tower units, two 1-over-1 tower units, four 50" 2-arm reelstands, two dryers, two chillers and one double jaw (2:3:3) folder. The press will be installed next to the existing two Mitsubishi DIAMONDSPIRIT presses in the Marai Malai Nagar plant and is expected to commence commercial operations in September 2008.

Hiroshima, Japan - At Print Media Messe - drupa 2008 - Mitsubishi will be exhibiting the largest number of printing units the company has ever brought into a single event. All presses are sheet-fed models from the new DIAMOND V3000 Series first introduced last September at the International Graphic Arts Show in Japan, but in model variations that have never been shown before.

"Net Production Nets Profits" is the theme on Mitsubishi's stand at drupa, and press demonstrations will focus on the unparalleled levels of productivity that each different model delivers.

Mitsubishi's lineup will include a six-color DIAMOND V3000LX with coater and extended delivery, an eight-color DIAMOND V3000R convertible perfector and a ten-color DIAMOND V3000TP Tandem Perfector. All three presses accommodate sheet sizes of up to 1050mm x 750mm and print at a maximum speed of up to 16,200 sheets per hour.

High value-added printing quality is the keyword for Mitsubishi's presentation on the wide stock range V3000LX. In addition to highlighting the numerous production and design advancements found in the V3000 Series, the four daily demonstrations on the V3000LX will feature a strike-through varnish technique refined by Mitsubishi's Paper & Printing Research & Development Center.

Mitsubishi's new convertible perfector - the V3000R - will be presented in four demonstrations a day along with the company's unique dedicated perfector - the V3000TP. Maximum perfecting speed on both presses is rated at 16,200 sph, the fastest perfecting speed in the world.

To highlight the merits of "SimulChanger," Mitsubishi's fully automatic plate changing system that removes old plates and mounts new plates at every unit simultaneously in less than 75 seconds, the V3000TP will run three different jobs during each presentation.

The TP, along with the other two press exhibits, will be linked to the Mitsubishi Color Control System (MCCS-V), which scans all image data on the printed sheet in a single measuring operation and feeds back deviations to ink keys at individual printing units of the press via the IPC press control console.

For fine-tuning of colors, all press exhibits are also equipped with the DIAMOND Color Navigator now integrated into the IPC console. This interface provides a revolutionary new approach to conventional color matching, greatly simplifying the skill-intensive task of color adjustments.

Mitsubishi web offset press presentations will cover the company's line of both newspaper presses and commercial web offset presses. New inline color control systems for both press lines along with an update on the DIAMOND 16MAX-V web press with variable cutoff will be provided four times daily.

The Mitsubishi stand at drupa 2008 is located in Hall 15 - Stand No. D42, and occupies an area of nearly 1,600 square meters (17,000 square feet).

Tokyo, March 18, 2008 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) will exhibit and demonstrate three new models in the DIAMOND V Series, the company's sheet-fed offset presses developed in pursuit of maximum productivity and operability, at "drupa 2008," the world's largest international graphic art exhibition for the printing industry. This year's show will be held for 14 days, from May 29 through June 11, at the Messe Fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The three models to be introduced are: 1) the "DIAMOND V3000LX," designed for optimal printing on various stock across a wide thickness range; 2) the "DIAMOND V3000R," a convertible perfector press for both single-side and double-side printing; and 3) the "DIAMOND V3000TP," a dedicated one-pass perfecting press that applies MHI's proprietary technologies for fully printing on one side and then the other without tumbling the sheet. All three sheet-fed offset presses focus on minimizing non-printing time and increasing production availability time while retaining the basic performance standards of MHI's earlier printing presses reputed for their high quality and reliability.

The DIAMOND V Series represents a new generation fully improving, for the first time in seven years, on the existing DIAMOND Series. The new V Series models minimize non-availability factors from the three perspectives of maintenance time, less make-ready time and elimination of waste caused by printing imperfections. MHI introduced the first DIAMOND V3000, a straight printing offset press for sheet sizes up to 1050 millimeter (mm) x 750 mm, last fall. The three machines to be exhibited at drupa 2008 mark the second round of new model V Series introductions.

To boost productivity and operability even further, all three of the new presses accommodate "SimulChanger," the industry's first fully automatic plate changing system that enables fast and precise removal and mounting of all printing plates simultaneously in less than 75 seconds, regardless of the number of color units involved. If the time required for plate cylinder repositioning at each unit is excluded, the plate change time itself is performed in less than 38 seconds. The presses can also accommodate the optional "DIAMOND Color Navigator" system, which enables easier color adjustment - a procedure that has conventionally been a highly skill-intensive operation.

Improvements in the three new presses also targeted easier maintenance and enhanced operability. Improvements in maintenance and management are achieved through: 1) the adoption of lubricant-free bearings in the cylinders, thereby minimizing such problems as oil splatters on the sheet and machine failures; 2) the introduction of "automatic positioning of lubrication points and lubricating" functions; and 3) the implementation of a device that increases the excessive powder recovery rate in the sheet delivery. In addition, a number of preset functions make for further enhancement in operability.

DIAMOND V3000LX
The DIAMOND V3000LX is capable of printing on sheets with thicknesses ranging from 0.04 to 1.0 mm. To prevent scratches and smudging when printing on thick sheets, various innovations in air management control have been incorporated, and improvements in air control efficiency and reduction in the number of air blowers have been realized through redesigning of the air hose arrangement. Productivity and maintenance workability have also been improved by redesigning the installation position of the dryer within the extended delivery and the location of dryer lamps between individual printing units.

DIAMOND V3000R
The DIAMOND V3000R is a convertible press with changeover to and from the perfecting mode suitable for both straight printing and perfecting. Through the adoption of a three-cylinder reversing unit with double-size reversing cylinders, the press realizes stable sheet transfer and high-speed perfecting at printing speeds up to 16,200 sheets/hour, the fastest in the industry and equivalent to the speed of MHI's straight model presses. Improvements in the delivery have further eliminated factors that typically cause sheet smudging.

DIAMOND V3000TP
The DIAMOND V3000TP marks a further advancement in MHI's Tandem Perfector (TP) press, which uses proprietary technologies to enable one-pass perfecting and features a unique in-line connection of front-side printing units and reverse-side printing units. Inheriting existing TP press features, the new model provides optimum flexibility in printing, minimizing limitations inherent in convertible perfector presses such as print image area and sheet size accuracy. The press is not only capable of thin to thick stock applications but also achieves high-speed printing at 16,200 sheets/hour, the same as the V3000R, with a newly added belt-transfer mechanism that eliminates smudges in the delivery.

In the area of general commercial and catalog printing, where sheet-fed presses commonly excel, fierce pricing competition is being waged against other types of presses, especially web presses for high-volume printing and print-on-demand (POD) systems for small-lot printing. In order to win this competition in high-quality printing, the primary value-added feature of sheet-fed presses, is essential. MHI will position its three new presses as its key products, as presses that realize high-quality printing and quick delivery. The company will also conduct aggressive marketing activities focusing on high-grade printing - for example, multi-color capabilities and coating - and on the new models' excellent suitability for package printing.

Major Specifications of the Three New Models

Konron Printing, a commercial and publication printer headquartered in Wakaba-ku, Chiba Prefecture, recently took delivery of an eight-color (four over four) Mitsubishi DIAMOND 3000TP. The Tandem Perfector joins five other sheet-fed offset presses operated by Konron Printing, including two Mitsubishi four-color size 1 presses, one Mitsubishi four-color size 3 press, and one two-color size 4 press. The company also houses a complete prepress department with plate-making facilities, along with folding and finishing equipment in its postpress department.

The new Tandem Perfector at Konron Printing is designed for UV printing and features Mitsubishi's newly developed simultaneous plate changing system - the SimulChanger, which drew enormous interest during its Japanese debut earlier in the year at IGAS. Mitsubishi, together with Konron Printing, hosted an Open House on December 12, 2007 to showcase the Tandem Perfector and Konron Printing's new Toke Plant in Chiba, built exclusively to house the new press.

The Open House got underway at 2 p.m. with welcoming remarks by Katsumi Murayama, President of Konron Printing, and Tomoo Muraoka, Senior Sales Executive for Mitsubishi presses in Japan. The more than 120 visitors on hand for the event representing 50 of Japan's leading printing houses, were then provided detailed presentations on UV Tandem Perfector printing and on the SimulChanger by Mitsubishi technical engineers.

Following the presentations, visitors moved to the press where they witnessed live press demos of UV perfector printing of posters on thin stock of 0.09 mm and calendar images on 0.3 mm stock. The job changeover was aided by use of the Mitsubishi SimulChanger.

The advantage of UV printing on perfecting presses is not limited only to the super-quick product delivery resulting from the quick ink-curing process, but also includes a higher degree of quality between front side and reverse side colors through the elimination of ceramic jackets on the normally required printing units.

Moreover, equipped with SimulChanger, the time required for old plate removal and new plate wrap-up is only about 38 seconds regardless of the number of printing units involved. The complete plate-changing process, including plate cylinder phase adjustments required for the simultaneous plate changes, takes no more than 75 seconds. At the Open House, visitors were quick to praise the eight-minute changeover process that was witnessed from printing completion on the first job to test printing of the second.

Mitsubishi welcomes these valuable opportunities to receive user and visitor feedback on press equipment and continues to apply recommendations made in its development of new products offerings to better meet customers' changing requirements.

The 19th edition of the biennial Japan Newspaper Production Show - JANPS 2007 - was held for four days beginning on November 6 at the Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan and attended by 20,295 visitors.

Along the show theme of "Faster, Wider, and Finer - Newspaper Technology in Progress," Mitsubishi exhibited its latest equipment and systems for newspaper production based on the catchphrase of "No DIAMOND, No Life - The Mitsubishi DIAMOND series: Essential for all printing environments."

On the main stage within the Mitsubishi booth, the company provided presentations on "PRINT COMPLEX," unveiling diversified multimedia applications in recent years achievable on the single diameter plate cylinder newspaper web offset press model DIAMONDSPIRIT. Also, in collaboration with Fuji Film Graphic Systems Company of Japan, Mitsubishi introduced "Eye-Proof," a monitor simulation system enhanced through the in-line quality control system "DIAMOND EYE." Each of the four daily presentations was exceptionally well attended with a standing-room audience that often spilled out into the aisles. In addition, a Mitsubishi team of technical engineers conducted short demonstrations between main stage presentations on "PRINT COMPLEX" and "Eye-Proof" in a special seminar room set up within the booth.

Well-attended demonstrations at Mitsubishi's main stage

At JANPS 2007, Mitsubishi proposed two new solutions for the newspaper press industry. The first solution was "PRINT COMPLEX" and featured the Japanese debut of the 4x1 DIAMONDSPIRIT. This particular newspaper press model mounts four plates across a single diameter plate cylinder, slashing in half the number of printing plates required, and prints at the world's fastest 4x1 press speed of up to 80,000 copies per hour. Additionally equipped with "PRINT COMPLEX", two different kinds of products can be printed simultaneously on one press at high speed and high quality without any additional press operator or press crew.

The second solution proposed by Mitsubishi at the show was the density simulation system "Eye-Proof." Linked with the DIAMOND EYE - Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association's 2006 technology award winning in-line quality control system, "Eye-Proof" automatically controls color by comparing the proof against the monitor display and changing density values before printing.

Mitsubishi continues to apply its extensive capabilities as a general machinery manufacturer and supported by its wide-ranging technologies to develop products that contribute to the business success of customers. The new technologies introduced at JANPS are specifically designed to improve productivity and printing quality of newspaper production.

Printing samples from Nikkan Sports Printing Company on "DIAMONDSPIRIT"		Monitor Simulation System "Eye-Proof" exhibit

Japan's quadrennial international graphic arts show - IGAS - came to a successful conclusion on 27 September with more than 130,000 visitors in attendance over the course of the sevenday event held at the Tokyo Big Site.

Mitsubishi used the IGAS platform for the launching of the DIAMOND V3000 sheet-fed offset press. With "net production nets profits" as the theme, two four-color models of this completely re-designed 40-inch (750mm x 1050mm) press were exhibited and each of the four daily presentations focused on new press features that contribute to a far higher press availability rate.

Other highlights of the Mitsubishi stand included the new revolutionary color control interface "DIAMOND Color Navigator," the fully automatic SimulChanger equipped on an eight-color DIAMOND 3000TP, an inline printing quality control device "MAX Diamond Eye" on a DIAMOND 16SSS commercial web press, and the just-in-time digital network centered on "MAX-net" and MCCS II and V color control systems.

Mitsubishi welcomed a record number of local and overseas visitors to the booth, and the company's new products and new technologies were very well received. The extremely large turnout at all exhibit demonstrations exceeded seating capacity and resulted in many of the visitors having to stand throughout each presentation.

Terrific turnout witnessed throughout the show		Crowds begin to gather at start of DIAMOND V3000 presentation

Positive feedback from customers during the show included comments made on the greatly enhanced operation of the DIAMOND V3000, its improved press operation panels, and the overall smart styling of the press. The 75-second plate change out achieved by the SimulChanger regardless of printing units involved was also well received, as was the DIAMOND Color Navigator. Signaling a new era in commercial web offset presses was the one-button start-up and control by MAX DIAMOND EYE and "Fully Automatic Start-Up Cutoff Control System" demonstrated on the DIAMOND 16SSS.

Mitsubishi will continue working to further improve the technological advancements introduced at IGAS and plans to bring similar product innovations that contribute to customer success to the world's largest graphic arts show - drupa 2008 - next May.

DIAMOND 16SSS commercial web press proved to be a big press and big crowd attractor		DIAMOND 3000TP demos also drew standing room crowds

Mitsubishi has developed a prototype inline print quality control system for commercial web offset presses, dubbed the "MAX DIAMOND EYE," and will unveil the new system at IGAS 2007 installed on a Mitsubishi DIAMOND 16SSS web press.

Previously, Mitsubishi and The Yomiuri Shimbun jointly developed an inline print quality control system, known as DIAMOND EYETM, for the company's line of double width newspaper offset presses. In 2006, the DIAMOND EYETM received a technology award from the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association.

Since then, Mitsubishi has been aiming to expand applications of the system to its line of commercial web offset presses, however, due to the significant differences in color reproduction of inks, web substrates and overall printing quality demands, practical application has been difficult.

The prototype MAX DIAMOND EYE basically follows the same system configuration as for newspaper printing, but includes a newly developed image processor containing a preprogrammed database of calibrations on different ink and web combinations in order to match different color reproductions.

MAX DIAMOND EYE realizes full automation of color matching without the use of color patches by calculating and setting the printing target based on printing characteristics of the press, such as a dot gain, and then comparing the image data received from prepress with the actual image data read by the image sensor in the press. The system consists of a PPC Server, IPC II+, operation console, control device, and image sensor.

The PPC Server receives CIP3/4 image data from the prepress and converts it into control data that is then stored. The stored control data is transmitted to the control device from the PPC Server via the IPC II+. Once printing begins, the control device compares the actual image data provided by the image sensor with the stored control data and automatically performs control and check.

MAX DIAMOND EYE Main Functions:

1. Color Density Control
   Target density of C, M, Y, and K is calculated for each inking area based on image data and controlled at the startup of printing. Therefore, color matching is automatically initiated without input from the press operator. As an additional control method, the operator can set the target density, which may prove more effective for controlling specific colors or specific image parts.


2. Printed Web Surface Check
   This function detects ink spots and oil splattering by comparing actual printed image density with preset (proof) density in pixel. Defective prints are automatically removed by signal transmission to the delivery carrier.

The International Graphic Arts Show (IGAS) 2007 gets underway at the Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, Tokyo, Japan, on 21 September. Mitsubishi will be bringing to this seven-day event a number of new press products and technologies that delivery tangible results aimed at improving actual press productivity and printing quality.

The Mitsubishi booth at IGAS is located in the No. 1 East Hall (Stand No. E1-3) and occupies an area of more than 1,500 square meters. Press exhibits, detailed below, will be zoned to reflect different industry applications.

Within the Sheet-fed Offset Press Zone One, Mitsubishi will unveil two four-color models of its new DIAMOND V3000 press. Printing demonstrations on both models will be conducted throughout each day of the show. The DIAMOND V3000 was developed to improve overall productivity by decreasing nonoperational time of the press within the plant pressroom. The press also features a totally redesigned exterior with numerous improvements for easier operations and safety. One of the many new devices to be featured will be the "SimulChanger" - a fully automatic plate changing system that removes and mounts all plates simultaneously in about one minute. The DIAMOND Color Navigator, a color adjustment interface, will also be exhibited in this zone.

The Perfecting World Zone Two will feature the reputed DIAMOND 3000TP Tandem Perfector in an eight-color (four/four) printing unit arrangement. The TP at IGAS is configured for UV printing with built-in UV dryers and will further promote the one-pass perfecting benefits of productivity improvements realized through quicker product delivery. Press demonstrations will focus on quick job changeovers achieved with the fully automated "SimulChanger" plate changing system, which in the case of the TP allows for plates removal and mounting to be accomplished simultaneously at all reverse-side and front-side printing units in the same time normally required for just one unit. The Mitsubishi Color Control System (MCCS-V) will be linked with the TP press and provide full image color control for both sides of the perfected UV printed sheets. Mitsubishi's other lineup of perfecting press models - stacked perfector and convertible perfector - will be highlighted through graphic panel displays.

The Mitsubishi Web World Zone Three houses a four-unit (eight-color) DIAMOND 16SSS commercial web offset press with a 546mm cutoff. The press will be equipped with a prototype in-line print quality control system named "MAX DIAMOND EYE." Press demonstrations will highlight the quick start-up features of the shaftless drive press, the inherent features of the DIAMOND 16SSS press model, and the color control capabilities afforded by the MAX DIAMOND EYE.

In addition to the three primary zones identified above, Mitsubishi also intends to introduce other products that it manufactures, such as forklifts, air-conditioning systems, photovoltaic systems and cogeneration systems. These products, while outside the direct scope of printing machinery, are rapidly becoming the focus of increased attention as viable technologies in protecting the environment.

Mitsubishi also plans to exhibit a selection of high value-added printing samples provided by Mitsubishi press users around the globe to promote the scope of different printing possibilities available.

Mitsubishi has developed a new sheetfed offset press available in a size format of 750mm x 1050mm that significantly enhances net productivity and operability. The new press - designated the DIAMOND V3000 - will be unveiled at IGAS 2007 in Japan on 21 September, at which time the press will become available for global sales.

The sheet-fed printing market has been facing stiff competition from commercial web offset in high-volume runs and electronic printing in short press runs. The inline folding processes of web presses and the variable information features of electronic printing systems provide these respective markets with significant benefits. For sheet-fed presses to remain competitive, it is necessary to improve the addedvalue features of high printing quality and printed product diversification.

The boom in product diversification along with the trend towards smaller lot runs, however, have resulted in greater sheet-fed press downtime, as makeready and press adjustments tend to reduce the operation rate of the printing plant.

Mitsubishi, as a world-renowned press manufacturer, already offers quality control through digital technology and inline processes. In the development of its DIAMOND V3000, Mitsubishi set out to improve net productivity of sheet-fed printing by minimizing press downtime from mechanically related causes, simplifying press operations, and placing even greater emphasis on operator safety and environment friendliness. The result is a press that realizes increased sales potential by increasing the total net operation rate of the press.

In short, the DIAMOND V3000 can be summed up as a press of outstanding performance that is extremely operator friendly and remarkably stylish.

Among the many features of the DIAMOND V3000 are the following:

• Application of international design featuring "soft geometric styling" The simple yet modern ergonomic design features bold cuts and gentle curves, providing outstanding accessibility and operability realized through the collaboration of a team of international industrial designers and Mitsubishi's own engineering group.
• LED displays of press operation status
• Maintenance mode features that simplify required tasks Includes measures that minimize printing problems, such as scumming, and simplifies other tasks through adoption of non-lubricating bearings, torsion bar for the gripper shaft, automatic positioning of lubricating points, automatic lubrication, and removable dampening water tank.
  In addition, an optionally available powder retraction system is available to prevent powder buildup within the delivery.
• Improvements in press operability Includes the application of bender-less plate clamping and improvements in plate changing device, presetting functions, such as impression pressure preset and delivery preset, and wizard function, such as batch preparations.
• Newly developed simultaneous plate changer "SimulChanger" and color adjustment interface
  - DIAMOND Color Navigator - are also optionally available.

Mitsubishi has developed a new sheetfed offset press, the "DIAMOND V3000," designed for optimal printing availability. The DIAMOND V3000, which will reach the market this September, represents the company's first totally new model of straight sheet-fed presses in seven years. While retaining the basic performance standards of Mitsubishi's earlier printing presses reputed for their high quality and reliability, the newest model realizes outstanding improvements in productivity and operability and incorporates an altogether new styling.

The DIAMOND V3000 is a Size 3, 40-inch press that can accommodate sheet sizes up to 750mm by 1,050mm. Mitsubishi thoroughly classified the factors that contribute to nonproductive operations and implemented new devices that minimize non-printing time. As a result, the DIAMOND V3000 delivers a production availability level that is more than 10% higher in comparison to existing models.

Improvements were made in more than 80 different areas in pursuit of optimal reduction of downtime and a higher press availability factor. These include: 1) reduced maintenance time: more than 70 hours/year in lubrication time trimmed through various measures, including adoption of lubricant-free bearings in cylinders; 2) less make-ready time: adoption of a newly developed simultaneous all-unit plate changer for precise plate removal and mounting in about one minute, regardless of the number of color units; and 3) elimination of waste caused by printing imperfections: adoption of new technologies throughout the press for eliminating such problems as oil splatters, irregular sheet feeding and doubling.

Mitsubishi has also reviewed the exterior design of the press from a material and styling viewpoint and implemented the industry's first use of super-plastic zinc alloy (SPZ), an extremely sturdy material frequently used in medical equipment. SPZ concurrently provides a high degree of freedom in design and structural durability. It enables not only the production of a stylish exterior but also shields out electromagnetic waves and irksome noise, thus creating a working environment friendly to press operators as well as ambient electronics devices. Adoption of flat sheet-key panels for operational control greatly enhances operability by eliminating unintentional activation of wrong buttons that might otherwise cause faulty operation.

In the area of general commercial and catalog printing, where sheet-fed presses generally excel, fierce pricing competition is being waged with other types of presses, especially web presses for high-volume printing and electronic printing systems for small-lot printing. In order to win this competition, high-quality printing, the primary value-added feature of sheet-fed presses, is essential. Mitsubishi will position the DIAMOMD V3000 as its key product, as a press that realizes high-quality printing and quick delivery, and will conduct aggressive marketing activities focusing on high-grade printing - for example, multi-color capabilities and coating - and the excellent suitability for packaging applications.

Mitsubishi will exhibit the DIAMOND V3000 at IGAS 2007, the International Graphic Arts Show to be held in Japan on September 21-27 at Tokyo Big Sight.

	Ma Lie of MLP HK leads seminar on Mitsubishi presses

The Fourth China International Printing & Equipment Materials Exposition - Print Expo 2007 - was recently conducted at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing. The five-day show got underway on 12 June and was expected to draw an estimated 80,000 visitors from both inside and outside of China, with no fewer than 500 exhibitors taking part.

Mitsubishi, together with MLP Hong Kong, were on hand to meet and greet the more than 1,200 visitors who registered at the stand throughout the show. The impressively designed 54 square meter Mitsubishi booth, while absence any press hardware, did provide visitors an abundance of information on press products and the Mitsubishi digital network through graphic displays and video presentations.

In the late afternoon of the second show day, Mitsubishi held a seminar on the company's lineup of sheet-fed offset presses. Attended by nearly 70 individuals from some of China's most prominent printing houses, Ma Lie of MLP Hong Kong briefly touched on each of the different press size formats and then spent the remaining time on an in-depth presentation of the Mitsubishi Tandem Perfector. To date, MLP Hong Kong has installed or received orders for 16 Tandem Perfectors, with each press configured of eight or more printing units.

Following the seminar, Mitsubishi hosted a dinner for the attendees at the Landmark Hotel. Toshio Yoshikawa, deputy general manager of the Paper & Printing Machinery Division, opened the evening with a short welcoming address where he reiterated Mitsubishi's uncompromising commitment to the Chinese printing industry.

With the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Shanghai World Expo rapidly approaching, the Chinese printing industry is expected to continue it tremendous growth over the immediate future. According to the show organizers - Printing Technology Association of China and China International Exhibition Center Group Corporation, China is expected to become one of the most important printing industry centers by the year of 2010.

	Toshio Yoshikawa, Vice President of Mitsubishi's Paper & Printing Machinery Division (center) congratulates Banlue Utsahajit, President of CPI Interprint (second from right) on his puchase, while Songsith Hivijit, Executive Director of SM Graphic Center (second from left) and others look on

Pack Print International 2007 - The International Packaging and Printing Exhibition for Asia - closed its doors on 29 April, ending a highly praised and highly successful inaugural event. The four-day show held at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) drew more than 20,000 trade visitors from 62 countries with 285 exhibitors from 25 countries taking part.

The extremely positive feedback from visitors and exhibitors alike at this first-time exhibition stemmed from the vast experience of the three event organizers. Over the past decade, The Thai Printing Association and The Thai Packaging Association have been responsible for putting on the biennial AsiaPrint and AsiaPack events. Messe Duesseldorf Asia, with its vast experience in conducting international events, teamed up with the two Thai Associations and helped to add an international touch to this year's show.

Mitsubishi, together with its exclusive press sales agency in Thailand - SM Graphic Center, were on hand to meet and greet the many show visitors. While the 72 square meter stand was short on press hardware, it certainly wasn't short on press enquiries and new press orders.

During the course of the show, Mitsubishi and SM Graphic Center conducted a press conference, announcing one of the single largest orders concluded at the show. Thai printer CPI Interprint signed a contract for the purchase of two Mitsubishi sheet-fed offset presses; an eight-color DIAMOND 3000TP and a four-color DIAMOND 3000LS. The presses are scheduled for delivery to CPI's new plant at Sinsakhon Printing City.

At the same time, Mitsubishi also announced a large package order received from Eastern Printing and Sahakij Packaging - one of Thailand's largest commercial and package printing groups. The order, scheduled for shipment later this summer, includes one four-color DIAMOND 3000LS, two five-color DIAMOND 3000LS, and one five-color large format Mitsubishi 6H sheet-fed offset presses.

Prior to the conclusion of the show, Mitsubishi also received separate orders for two four-color and one five-color DIAMOND 3000LS sheet-fed presses, raising the total number of press orders received during the exhibition to nine presses.

The four-over-four DIAMOND 3000TP for CPI Interprint will be the first Tandem Perfector to go into Thailand. It will also be the 100^th Tandem Perfector to be delivered globally since the press was first introduced in 2002. The press will also establish one more milestone as it will become the 100th Mitsubishi printing press delivered to Thailand.

The next Pack Print International will take place again in Thailand in 2009 and promises to be bigger and even better.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries together with MLP Hong Kong were on hand with the first public presentation in China of the DIAMOND 3000TP Tandem Perfector. In March of this year, MLP hosted a private showing of the Tandem Perfector at Huaiyin Xinhua Printing Company in Jiangsu Province, and there are currently eight TP presses in operation in China. With "Contributions for Your Success" serving as the theme of the stand, the eight-color TP generated a significant degree of interest.

Other stand highlights included the Digital Workflow Corner with the Mitsubishi PPC Server and Dainippon Screen CTP System, along with several two-meter-high backlit press graphics. Press demonstrations of the TP were conducted five times daily and focused on the high printing quality and high productivity merits of the press with video testaments from TP press users in China, Japan and The Netherlands.

On the evening of 12 May in The Great Hall of the People, Mitsubishi and MLP hosted a party for approximately 1,100 Mitsubishi press users and distinguished guests from the Chinese and Asian printing industries. All guests were presented with a commemorative book that summarized each of the many technical exchange seminars conducted by Mitsubishi and MLP in every Chinese province, centrally administered cities and autonomous regions since October 2000. Fumio Wakisaka, general manager of the Mitsubishi Paper & Printing Machinery Division, Tatsuya Uewaki, general manager of the Mitsubishi International Press Sales Department, and Seiji Utsunomiya, president of MLP Hong Kong, were on hand to welcome all guests.

Before the end of the exhibition, MLP had secured several signed contracts for DIAMOND 3000TP presses and was still in negotiations on numerous other possible TP press orders.

The next China Print is slated to take place in Beijing in 2009.

 "All in Print China 2003" took place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) from October 29th to November 1st in Shanghai, China. On the largest stand among all major overseas press manufacturers, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and MLP Hong Kong showcased the DIAMOND 3000LX 5-color sheet-fed press with in-line coater and a DIAMOND 1000LS 4- color sheet-fed press. The DIAMOND 3000LX handles a maximum sheet size of 720mm x 1020mm, the full spectrum of sheet thickness from 0.04mm up to and including 1.0mm, and prints at speeds of 16,000 sph. Together with the in-line coater for aqueous and UV coating applications and dryer-equipped extended delivery, the DIAMOND 3000LX represents the optimum press for today's diversified printing environment. The small-format DIAMOND 1000LS - with a maximum sheet size of 520mm x 720mm - is ideally suited for catalogs and small-sized packaging and label printing jobs, including cigarette packages and beverage labels.

Japan Graphic Arts Suppliers Committee and other related supporting organizations recently conducted IGAS 2003 in Tokyo, Japan. IGAS - the International Graphic Arts Show - is held on a four-year rotation schedule and attracts well over 400 exhibitors from around the globe. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, among the many renowned press manufacturers in attendance, used this opportunity to showcase four state-of-the-art presses, including the DIAMOND 16SSS commercial web press, DIAMOND 3000TP 8-color (four over four) Tandem Perfector, DIAMOND 1000R 8-color (four over four) Convertible Perfector, and DIAMOND 3000LS 4-color sheet-fed press. The recently launched DIAMOND 3000TP is unique in that it prints one side of the sheet and then the other without turning the sheet. In addition, the press features extremely accurate front-to-back registration, easy operation and maintenance, high speed, and readily handles a wide range of stock and thickness. The TP has also been recognized overseas through an international printing press award. The DIAMOND 16SSS commercial web press on display featured new shaftless technology with emphasis on lower noise output and easier operation and makeready available through use of the MAX-Expert software package. Each live demonstration proved these claims, and the press earned high commendations from visitors.
The 22 to 28 September exhibition attracted many visitors from Southeast Asia, Europe and America. MLP Hong Kong was pleased to learn that according to available information, visitors from China alone calling at the Mitsubishi stand numbered a few thousand.