Hiroshima, Japan - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery, Ltd. (MHI-P&PM) conducted an Open House at the company’s headquarters in Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture on 2 December 2010. Highlights of the event focused on two differently configured DIAMOND V3000LX sheet-fed press models: one equipped with an LED-UV drying system and slated for delivery later this month to Showado Company, Ltd. in Isahaya City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and the other equipped with an ecoUV drying system and currently installed at the factory’s Graphic Arts Center (GAC) Showroom.

The one-day event got underway with opening remarks by Showado President Masazumi Nagae and MHI-P&PM President Ken Watabe to the nearly 130 guests on hand from both Japan and abroad. The high visitor turnout was testament to the widening interest around the globe in the world’s first LED-UV drying application for carton printing.

Following a brief outline of the day’s events, demonstrations were given on the LED-UV drying system equipped on a six-color DIAMOND V3000LX press fitted with three cylinder extension units and a coater unit. Folders were printed on clear 0.2mm thick polypropylene (PP) sheets, and immediately after printing was completed, the presenter touched the LED-UV lamp. The objective here was to show how the low temperatures generated by the lamp were highly suitable for plastics free from thermal influences that could lead to bending or other sheet deformations.

During plate and ink changes for the next job, an MHI-P&PM engineer detailed the technical features of the DIAMOND V3000LX and the LED-UV drying system. In summarizing, the engineer highlighted the LX press model’s special functions for package printing and the world’s first LED-UV drying system application specifically for the carton printing market.

Plate changes on the press were accomplished with Mitsubishi’s SimulChanger and the short time involved for this process visually displayed on a digital timer. The second job was an image of Mt. Fuji printed on 0.8mm board with OP coating and a special strike-through varnish. Immediately after printing, the board was cut and distributed to visitors who were then able to individually confirm the dryness of the special coating processes and ink adhesion. At the conclusion of the demonstration, visitors were invited to an up-close look at the press and all expressed an interest in package printing using the LED-UV drying system.

The second half of the day’s events took place in the GAC Showroom where a six-color DIAMOND V3000LX press equipped with three cylinder extension units and two coater units was used to highlight ecoUV printing. In this demonstration, a brochure on Mitsubishi Motors’ “i-MiEV” was printed on 0.1mm coated stock. The pile was removed, turned and run though the press again, printing the same brochure image. Immediately after the second run was completed, visitors were able to verify the ink adhesion of the printed sheets.

A technical presentation was provided on the ecoUV drying system and on existing technologies while plate and ink changes for the second job were being done. This job involved the printing of a Mihara City disaster prevention map on 0.13mm YUPO synthetic paper and again, upon completion of printing, visitors confirmed ink adhesion on par with that of coated stock.

The primary concern raised by printers on hand for both the first and second presentations centered on whether the printed samples were sufficiently dried. In order to prove the ink adhesion efficiency of the different drying methods showcased, Mitsubishi conducted tape tests on several samples selected immediately after each print run, and all tests showed successful results.

Although demonstrations of the two different drying systems ran close to three hours, many of the attendees expressed a genuine interest in both systems. In considering its vision on the direction of the printing industry, Mitsubishi has been able to successfully offer alternative means for drying applications.