This follows the successful upgrade of Folder B’s proprietary Interbus Loop Encoders on a manroland press.

Replacing the proprietary Interbus Loop Encoders and Web Break Detectors on the remaining two folders, Harland Simon engineers will again be installing remote I/O at The Des Moines Register in order to facilitate a better way of interfacing to new devices. This enables the use of off-the-shelf components such as proximity sensors and encoders, which are more readily available and often at a lower cost. Prior to the upgrade the publication was relying on using rarely available parts with built-in fieldbus interfaces.

John Staiano, Managing Director – Americas for Harland Simon comments: “When a newspaper is faced with the levels of proprietary hardware seen on these type of presses, a phased approach is often the only viable way. The extensive experience of our project managers and engineers of carrying out this type of retrofit has helped ensure that the project was completed without requiring any down time.”

Harland Simon uses off-the-shelf hardware which means that if components fail, these can be sourced locally from multiple suppliers, ensuring parts are always available and at a competitive price.  Coupled with using control software that is open and available to the end user, this approach has helped build an enduring maintenance partnership with The Des Moines Register and other media organizations around the globe.

About Harland Simon
Harland Simon is one of the world’s leading suppliers of newspaper press control and management systems. With roots going back to 1915, the company has been providing innovative, user-friendly and reliable solutions to the newspaper printing industry for over thirty years, from ‘turnkey’ systems for new presses to cost effective upgrades on existing presses.

Utilizing the benefits of industry-standard hardware and software platforms, Harland Simon offers a complete range of products and solutions including press drives and controls as well as associated computer management systems and production tools. It’s an approach that Harland Simon has used on many occasions previously on systems supplied by Goss, Rockwell Automation, KBA, Honeywell, EAE and manroland to improve performance, minimize waste and maximize production quality whilst keeping presses in daily production.

(http://www.harlandsimon.com)