GLENDALE, Calif. -- Macson Printing & Lithography, a family-owned commercial printer serving the Los Angeles metropolitan area, installed a Mitsubishi Diamond 3000R convertible sheetfed perfector. The four-color press, which is equipped with an aqueous tower coater, is quickly adding sales volume to the 25-employee firm. "We had been preparing to upgrade our printing capabilities for about two years," recalled Doug McLean, a third-generation owner who runs Macson Printing with his brother, Denis. "We planned to replace three older presses, ranging from a four-color, 32-inch press, a four-color, 29-inch and a two-color, 36-inch press. The choice was between a 23 x 29-inch model and a 28 x 40-inch model. We finally decided that the eight-page format would enable us to grow in ways that a six-page press would not have made possible. The 40-inch Diamond 3000R perfector met all our needs. It was the right press at the right time." McLean's grandfather and father started the printing company in their garage more than 55 years ago. Today, Macson Printing is housed in a 10,000-square-foot shop. Evan McLean, Doug and Denis' father, is semiretired but still involved in the business. In addition to the Diamond 3000R, the full-service print shop has a full pre-press department with design and layout capabilities and computer-to-plate system. The full-service bindery performs die-cutting, folding, saddle stitching and shrink-wrapping. Macson Printing caters to nonprofit organizations, banks, hospitals and community colleges with four-color publications, annual reports and newsletters. One-color, two-color and four-color publications are staples of the firm's annual sales. "The ability of the Mitsubishi press to print two-over-two or a straight four colors was very appealing to us," McLean said. "The one- and two-color jobs are important to our business, and the higher quality we are able to achieve allows us to attract four-color agency work and other high-end projects." Before installing the press, Macson Printing billed approximately $1.5 million in annual sales. McLean said the company is on track to generate $2.5 million by the end of 2006, largely due to the sales staff and the updated printing technology. "In every respect, our experience with Mitsubishi has been positive," he said. "They worked with us on the purchase, installation and training."