Used to produce information leaflets for local people, which are dropped from aircrafts in "leaflet bombs", the unit was last in operation in Baghdad as part of the Iraq war effort.

The unit shown was one of the US Army's smaller print centres and comprises a truck with a covered mobile print room attached, which houses a Risograph colour printer. Similar units are currently in operation in Afghanistan, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq. While larger units, which contain Heidelberg GTOs and Polar guillotines, operate in countries such as Guam.

The army was at the Chicago exhibition to "let people know the army also does printing and to see what the industry can do for the army", said a spokesman. The US Army will train recruits as printers and illustrators to work in the print units, and also offers training in other media disciplines such as television.

Leaflet bombs are used by the Psychological Operations Battalion to distribute war propoganda such as details of its "most wanted" list.

The British Army also operates similar mobile print units in warzones.

Story by Lauretta Roberts in Chicago