DIAMOND-EYE
sales continue to expand in Japan
with in-line quality control systems
This in-line quality control system introduced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is the world’s first automatic colour matching process for colour 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.
In the year 2003, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries began the development of an automatic print quality colour 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.
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.
