Japanese newspaper press maker Mitsubishi Heavy Industries says it is to install a multi-tower DiamondSpirit 4x1 line early next year to print the daily ‘Saga Shimbun’. Established in 1884 in Saga Prefecture in Kyushu Island – an area renowned for colourfully crafted Imari/Arita porcelainware which dates to the 17th century – the Saga Shimbun Company prints the flagship 140,000-circulation weekday title. Actively involved in its community through a variety of media, the publisher enjoys a market share of nearly 50 per cent against competition from national newspapers. The new 4x1 press will enable it to publish in increased colour, mirroring the prefecture’s famous porcelain ware. The press, which is to be installed early next year, will replace a a single Goss double-width line at its plant in Saga City. Saga Shimbun evaluated production results at Nikkan Sports Printing – where Japan’s first 4x1 press was installed – before placing the order. The 80,000 cph Mitsubishi DiamondSpirit will have a cutoff of 546 mm and a web width of 1626 mm. It will be configured with two 4/4 tower printing units, two 2/1 towers, one 2:2 double rotary folder and four reelstands. A Mitsubishi press control system with automated features including colour register control, ink presetting with a CTP interface, and Diamond Eye Jr – a newly developed colour quality defect detection systemwhich can be upgraded to closed-loop – are to be installed. Headquartered in Tokyo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had consolidated sales of 3,375.6 billion yen in the year ended March, 2009.