Combination of controls upgrades and relocated equipment at Advance Central Services Alabama’s print operation

The interplay between a printing press and its users is one of the most critical elements to successful and highly effective print operations. The computer hardware and software components need to be comprised of current technology, use an intuitive interface, and create a dependable production environment in order for the print equipment to reach its highest level of utilization.

Advance Central Services Alabama, printer of publications such as The Mobile Press Register and The Birmingham News, has completed the first of three phases of a multi-phase electrical controls upgrade to its GEOMAN press in Mobile. Included in this are upgrades to server hardware, and controllers for printing units, reelsplicers, folders, and the industry-leading PECOM-X software interface, allowing for not only increased effectiveness to the controls, but the capability to analyze production and performance data in real-time.

One of the most critical component upgrades is the installation of new Interbus LOOP components, to integrate sensors and actuators to the local INTERBUS structure. This system consists of six different types of components and five sensor types, all under one interface. This upgrade will stabilize functionality of ink level sensors, web break detectors, and several other areas of the press.
Additionally, manroland web systems was selected by Advance Central Services to relocate and reconfigure a 9-tower REGIOMAN press to be installed in their Print Center in Mobile, Alabama. This press is being added to their existing equipment to enhance and increase the commercial printing capabilities at the plant.

“The complexities of relocating a press demands accurate planning, extensive preparation, and professional execution,” stated manroland web systems’ Service Director Mark Sievers, “With all of these things in place, the installation can be carried out quickly, so that production can restart as soon as possible with the relocated equipment.”

Upgrades to the controls on the GEOMAN press will have a direct influence on the integration of the REGIOMAN press into the Mobile plant. Both presses can be operated separately via the PECOM-X PPM server, while utilizing the same controls interface, providing enhanced format flexibility.
 
manroland web systems’ Vice President of Sales Ron Sams commented on the importance of these projects, “This represents a strong commitment to print by Advance Central Services Alabama. The repurposing of the assets in Mobile shows great vision by Advance, and supports the contract printing model that many newspapers are employing in order to meet the challenges of today’s newspaper industry. manroland web systems is very excited to partner with Advance on this important project.”

Installation of the controls upgrades as well as the REGIOMAN press equipment will be completed in Q4 of 2015.