Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today the successful completion of initial print test runs on the company's latest double-width newspaper offset press. Print runs were satisfactorily completed at the speed of 90,000 copies per hour making it the fastest printing speed for any double width newspaper offset press in the world. Tests were conducted at Mitsubishi's Paper & Printing Machinery Division in Hiroshima, Japan, where the press was designed, manufactured and assembled.

  Comments Kazuo Sugihara, general manager of the Mitsubishi Newspaper Press Design Department, "Initial test results have met, and in some cases exceeded, the stringent performance standards we first established for this press."

  Evaluations included in-depth studies conducted under a three-phase test program. The primary emphasis was placed on printing quality and folder precision at the targeted production speed of 90,000 cph. Secondary considerations focused on web tension control and flying plate change, along with analyses of machine vibration and noise reduction measures. Tests were conducted on a press model comprised of one four-high tower, one rotary folder, one 3-arm reel tension paster, and five dedicated reelstands to produce 48-page broadsheet product. The shaftless high-speed press features individual drive motors for all press components.

  In addition to the technological innovations incorporated throughout the press, the new high-speed model has also taken on a new exterior look. This includes the use of a metallic-gold color scheme for all press unit components, bowed-shape printing unit front surfaces, and larger, highly visible full-color touch-sensitive control panels.

  Jin Yamori, international newspaper press sales director stated, "Based on the initial test results, we remain extremely confident about the future possibilities this press will hold for newspaper publishers around the world."