BERLIN, N.J. — Hamilton Printing Group has evolved as a company by responding to customer demands for more diverse products and services. Over the past 22 years, the family-owned firm has maintained its focus on serving the publishing and manufacturing communities, but has consistently devoted additional resources to provide its clients with an economical, one-stop experience. In December 2005, Hamilton Printing Group put into operation a Mitsubishi Diamond 3000S press outfitted with a CIP3/4 interface enabling automated communication with prepress. A month earlier, the company implemented computer-to-plate (CTP) technology, installing a Fuji Javelin thermal platesetter. "Both products work hand in hand," said John Riebel, general manager. "The integration of prepress and press in terms of setup and quality is phenomenal. It has helped us tremendously." Hamilton Printing Group, headquartered in a 55,000-square-foot facility in Berlin, N.J., consists of Hamilton Press Inc. and Precision Packaging. Approximately 50 employees work for the company. Web, sheetfed and digital imaging systems are used to produce a broad spectrum of projects ranging from general commercial printing to litho labels and folding cartons to short-run and on-demand orders. Commercial projects include brochures, direct-mail materials, presentation folders and annual reports. Precision Packaging had been a longtime Mitsubishi press user when it was acquired by Hamilton Printing Group in 2000. That familiarity with Mitsubishi technology carried over into subsequent equipment purchases. Hamilton Printing Group bought the six-color, 40-inch Diamond 3000S to replace an 18-year-old machine and bolster its printing of multicolor marketing materials, according to Riebel. "The sheetfed department has been geared toward Mitsubishi presses," he noted. "We have an eight-color, 40-inch Mitsubishi and the new six-color press. The press operators were very knowledgeable of the presses. Mitsubishi manufactures a good product. That is why we stayed with Mitsubishi." Riebel said the combination of the upgraded prepress and press capabilities promises to expand Hamilton Printing Group's service opportunities. "Eliminating the film stage and manual stripping has significantly reduced production time in prepress," Riebel said. "The plates are much cleaner coming from the CTP device, and the fit is a lot better on press so we get sharper reproduction and tighter registration. The press automatically adjusts the ink keys for each job according to profile data transferred from the platesetter. That shortens the makeready on press. Overall, we get more work done in less time, which allows us to take on more work. We are very happy with the production. The new press is a definite asset for Hamilton Printing Group."