The Yomiuri Shimbun and Mitsubishi
mark successful start-up of new plant
Mitsubishi DIAMONDSTAR and DIAMOND EYE
bring high quality newspapers to the heart of Tokyo
Mitsubishi “DIAMOND EYE” system.
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Following the start-up of the third and final Mitsubishi 4 x 2 DIAMONDSTAR press line, The Yomiuri Shimbun’s Kiba plant project, located in the heart of Tokyo, has recently completed its developmental phase successfully. The first two DIAMONDSTAR press lines installed at the Kiba plant started production in March 2010.
The Mitsubishi 4x2 DIAMONDSTAR press lines installed at the Kiba plant are rated at 90,000 cph, have a cutoff of 546 mm (21.5 in) and handle web widths up to 1,626mm (64 in). Each press is configured with two 4/4 tower printing units, three 2/1 tower printing unit, one 3:2 & 2:2 double rotary folder, five reelstands and future provisions for one 4/4 tower printing unit and one reelstand. The presses are operated by the Mitsubishi press control system with automated features that include press presetting, ink presetting with CtP interface, colour register control, dual web tension control and the DIAMOND EYE system.
Ken Watabe, president, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery Ltd (MHI-P&PM), addressing attendees at start-up ceremony.
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One of the world’s most successful automatic in-line closed-loop print quality control systems with more than fifty installations, the state-of-the-art DIAMOND EYE achieves high-quality printing throughout production runs while maintaining consistent colour uniformity among each of the three press lines. The system greatly contributes to improved printing quality while saving energy and reducing costs, such as less start-up waste.
The Yomiuri Shimbun boasts one of the world’s largest daily circulation of approximately 10 million copies, and editions printed at the Kiba plant are distributed to subscribers residing in the center and east side of the nation’s capitol. In 2004, they took delivery of the very first DIAMONDSTAR press designed and manufactured by Mitsubishi. Since then, the company went on to purchase an additional thirteen DIAMONDSTAR press lines prior to the Kiba Plant order. Based on its extensive experience with this press model and the reliable production and high print quality that each delivered, The Yomiuri Shimbun ordered another three DIAMONDSTAR press lines along with the DIAMOND EYE system for its new Kiba Plant in September 2007.
On November 30, 2010, the company stopped 39 years of production at its Otemachi plant, located under the headquarters building. At its peak, the Otemachi plant housed 11 newspaper press lines. Under their production-decentralization policy, capacity at the Otemachi plant was gradually rolled back with just two newspaper press lines remaining for the city center of Tokyo. The DIAMONDSTAR press lines at the new Kiba plant are additionally handling the important role that the remaining presses served, allowing for the complete closure of the Otemachi plant.
Mitsubishi 4x2“DIAMONDSTAR” press.
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