DAC's "line sensor image processing technology" was first released as the print inspection system "Symphony" in 1995. This made it possible to conduct printing inspection in various processes such as film conversion, business form printing, and paper packaging (sheet-fed, corrugated board, blanks, etc.). "Gallery," a defective-image filing system that stores defect history, has facilitated the development of "a system to reduce waste."

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This article introduces the latest trends and technologies related to the inspection of contents and their identification for various media, including paper and digital recordings. The use of this technology may eliminate the variation in judgment that occurs during subjective evaluations, as well as the responsibility for content, thereby facilitating automated inspection and standardization. We focus on quality management, evaluation of the effect, and traceability of the inspection results for printed materials that are industrial products.

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The "MADOKEN" system was developed in the 1990s for inspecting addresses printed on sheets enclosed in envelopes. Because the system inspects the printed address via a see-through window in the envelope, it was named "MADO-KEN." MADOKEN has been widely implemented by many outsourcing companies that provide one-stop services from printing, enveloping, and sealing to delivery to Japanese post offices for invoices and other mail items. Since the legislation of a law for protecting information privacy in 2004, most outsourcing companies in Japan have been using MADOKEN in conjunction with an automatic insertion system. In recent years, the objective and functionality of MADOKEN have been modified according to market requirements and economic conditions. In this report, we describe these changes and the historical factors that have driven them.

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"Instrumental analysis" is a technique for measuring the characteristics of a substance, such as its composition, character, state, and structure. Qualitative and quantitative studies can be conducted using an "analysis apparatus," and these are indispensable in the development of current and upcoming technology. In the printing industry, instrumental analysis is widely adopted to solve problems encountered during the technical development of printing processes. The increased use of analytical instruments in recent years has contributed to the development of related technology. Each apparatus is developed and specialized according to the field; hence, users need to understand the underlying principles of such equipment before using it. It is also important to select the appropriate equipment to make specific measurements. In this study, we present examples of optimal instrumental analysis methods suitable for printing techniques. We also present an example of the practical application of hyphenated analysis, a novel instrumental analysis technique. Further, we analyze the hardening action of UV curable ink as an example.

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Recently, demands for 3D structural characterization are rapidly increasing in material science. In response to the demands, we have developed the 3D structural characterization technique using the combined system of focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) with a low aberration FIB column, Hitachi NB5000. The FIB-SEM system full automates serial sectioning work for simultaneous or alternating FIB and SEM operation. It is especially important in FIB fabrication to pay attention to fine structural changes that may occur to a sample due to ion-beam damage. Low accelerating voltage condition and cryo-FIB technique helps reduce the electron-beam damage. Currently, with demand for highly active materials such as Lithium (Li) expansion, the requirement to analyze Li using an electron microscope has been increased. But, it reacts with Oxygen and water vapor at atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the handling under the condition of inactive gas is required. In order to analyze materials highly active with atmospheric air, we developed a vacuum system consisting of specimen holders protected from air, a glove box, focused ion beam system, and electron microscope. The effectiveness was tested using negative electrode of lithium ion battery after charged. As a result, it was possible to transport, fabricate and observe the specimen without damage.

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In this study, we propose a novel model that predicts the spectral reflectance factor of colors formed using multi-color offset printing. The basic concept of this model was derived from a historical consideration of the fact that two types of models, namely the reflectance model and the density model, were used for photomechanical processes. The reflectance model was proposed by Neugebauer on the basis of the Demichel and Murray-Davies models. The density model was based on the color photographic model, and it assumed additivity and proportional rules on the density scale. First, the density model for offset printing is reconstructed using the Yule-Nielsen hypothesis and an assumption that the Demichel model also works on the density scale. Finally, the new model is produced on the basis of these two models using a weighting factor. The performance of the proposed model was evaluated for six-color offset printing and four-color offset printing, and the results were compared with those of the Neugebauer model modified by the Yule-Nielsen correction. The transition in the accuracy of the model with respect to the weighting factor was studied, and the optimum weighting factor for this experimental condition was determined. It was shown that the proposed model delivers accurate performance for six-color offset printing and conventional four-color offset printing, whereas the Yule-Nielsen model does not perform well for six-color printing.

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The objective of this study is to model and analyze behavioral traits that affect environmental innovation of a sustainable company in order to achieve a trade-off between environmental considerations and financial performance. Environmental regulations stimulate technical innovation, and it is assumed that business competitiveness increases according to Porter's hypothesis. Various empirical studies have already tested this hypothesis. However, the effects of the related factors on each other require further investigation. Therefore, we developed a model and analyzed the relationship for the model suits the characteristics of a company. The results of this study showed that raw-material industries and large companies could use a similar model for simulations.

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A spectral-based color reproduction method was investigated. In general, the root mean square errors (RMSEs) between the spectral reflectance factors of target colors and those of their reproductions are minimized to realize spectral color reproduction. However, complete spectral reflectance matching might be impossible using a common printing system. In other words, small spectral differences are assumed to exist. Thus, there is no guarantee that minimizing the RMSE will minimize the color difference and provide a better colorimetric result than common colorimetric color management systems (CMSs). The objective of this study is to develop a spectral-based reproduction method that can provide the same level of colorimetric accuracy as common CMSs, while minimizing the spectral error in color reproduction systems. The parameric decomposition method proposed by Fairman was applied in this method. The spectral reflectance of the target is replaced with a new target, which consists of the fundamental stimuli of the target and the metameric black of the last optimized spectral reflectance where the RMSE was minimized. This procedure is repeated until the desired color difference is obtained. Computational simulations and a printing experiment using a real printing press were carried out to evaluate the proposed method; the results verified the efficacy of the method.

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