Hiroshima, Japan, 08.04.11 - The Saga Shimbun Company, Ltd., headquartered in Saga City in Kyushu Island, hosted a celebration on March 5, 2011 to commemorate the completion and start-up of its new newspaper press.  The event was attended by Mr. Seiichiro Nakao, President of the Saga Shimbun Company, Mr. Mikio Sugiyama, Chairman of the Gifu Shimbun, Mr. Takao Kawasaki, President of the Nishinippon Shimbun and Mr. Ken Watabe, President of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery, Ltd.  All in attendance expressed their highest expectations of the state-of-the-art Mitsubishi 4 x 1 “DIAMONDSPIRIT” press.

 
The Saga Shimbun Company purchased the DIAMONDSPIRIT press in March 2010, switching from its existing Goss press and becoming the first user of 4 x 1 presses in Kyushu Island.

“During the press selection process, we had serious reservations about the 4 x 1 press since the 4 x 2 press is the industrial standard in Japan.  However, we were fully won over by the Mitsubishi 4 x 1 DIAMONDSPIRIT press following the observation of actual production runs at Nikkan Sports Printing and in-depth technical discussions with Mitsubishi engineers,” said Mr. Tsunemi Yoshiura, Director of the Saga Shimbun Company.

Mr. Takashi Fujito, Deputy Director of the Saga Shimbun Company said, “When the speed meter reached its maximum of 80,000 cph at the ceremony, I recalled everything from the kick-off meeting where all related parties for the project gathered.  I also really appreciated the sincere attitude of Mitsubishi people, even more than the high performance of the DIAMONDSPIRIT press.”  

The Mitsubishi 4 x 1 DIAMONDSPIRIT press for the Saga Shimbun Company is rated at 80,000 cph with a cutoff of 546mm (21.5 in) and a web width of 1,626mm (64 in).  The press will be configured with two 4/4 tower printing units, two 2/1 tower printing units, one 2:2 double rotary folder and four reelstands.  It will be operated by the Mitsubishi press control system with automated features that include precision ink presetting with CTP interface, various press presetting, automatic dual web tension control, color register control and DIAMOND EYE Jr. – the newly developed color quality defect detection system, which can be readily upgraded to the automatic closed-loop color control system “DIAMOND EYE” at any time.  The plant is also equipped with Mitsubishi’s SPR (Splicing Preparation Robot) operating in conjunction with an AGV system for full automation of reel floor operations.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery, Ltd. (MHI-P&PM) was established on July 1, 2010 as a fully owned group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.  Headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan and operating with a work force of approximately 1,000 employees, MHI-P&PM handles all facets related to Mitsubishi’s full lines of printing machinery and paper converting machinery, including design, production, sales, service and after-sales service support.  An extensive network of domestic sales and service branches and overseas sales agents and distributors support MHI-P&PM operations.  For more information, please visit the MHI-P&PM website (http://www.mhi-ppm.com/e)