In the 1990’s, Bosch Rexroth, with its well-known brand Indramat, took part in transforming the graphic arts industry from traditional mechanical line shafts to shaftless drive transmission. In the last 20+ years, Shaftless technology has been the predominant method to run and control printing presses and industry leading OEMs like KBA, Goss, DGM, and Solna has relied on Bosch Rexroth´s technology.

Many of these presses were equipped with the DIAX series of drives and the CLC motion controller. All based on SERCOS II fiber optics. Like all electronics, the service life of components is limited and especially on power electronics making the DIAX system a challenge to maintain today. There are many short-term solutions available to extend service life for a few years, but most do not involve any change in technology. This approach only delays the inevitable, which is a complete retrofit in the near future.

In 2015 DCOS developed an industry unique Retrofit concept for the DIAX platform, a step-by-step migration of the old DIAX system to a modern drive system platform, the same platform we use on new presses toady. The investment is targeted towards a new state-of-the-art technology, and gradually the old SERCOS II fiber optic system is removed and replaced with a standardized, non-proprietary Ethernet based bus system.

Frank Haberstroh, Managing Director says; “We are dedicated to printing and predict to do so for a long time. We heard about the DCOS retrofit solution for the DIAX drive system and got very interested as we were seeking for a more long-term approach than what was previously offered to us. We saw a DCOS retrofit on a Universal press and it was very convincing. Originally, we talked about step-by-step retrofit, but in the end, we decide it was more cost effective for us to do a complete retrofit on our six tower, one folder press.”

In April the contact was signed for the retrofit of thirty-two drives and four CLC motion controllers. The proprietary motor encoders will also be replaced by standard encoders. The retrofit will start in the end of August and will be competed in four weeks.

“Creating cost effective solutions with a technical edge has always been the strength of DCOS. I´m particularly proud of this solution. It’s the only truly future-proof solution offered today, completely based on standard hardware, cost-effective, and adaptable step-by-step. OTM Avistryk is the seventh press undergoing an DCOS retrofit of Bosch Rexroth system and we are thankful for the trust Frank and his team relies on us”, says Mattias Andersson, CEO DCOS Sweden AB.

About DCOS
DCOS offers custom-designed automated solutions with a focus on user-friendliness, efficiency and reliability – the aim is to maximize the productivity of the customers.

DCOS offers a new approach in operation and control systems, operator interfaces, production follow-up and camera-based inspection systems for new and printing press installations, including retrofitting of existing ones. The company has printing press customers across the world and operates a strong service organization based on a network of carefully selected and skilled agents and partners.

(https://dcos.com)