Gannett Publishing Services is upgrading controls on part of its mailroom system at Rochester, New York.
Electronic Design Group and Newspaper Solutions are cooperating on the project, which involves upgrading three Heidelberg gripper lines and nine release stations. PLCs and touch screens will be added to the NP200 drive cabinet to provide the pacing of the conveyor among other functions, with all release controls performed locally at each drop station.
The companies say the combination of these changes rids the need for the remote release controls console with their obsolete Xycom and Siemens PLC technology. Each release station will be updated with new PLCs, touch screens and a conversion of DC drives to AC drives/motors will eliminate sourcing issues for various parts and providing a current system with readily available parts.
Touch screens will provide diagnostics to minimise downtime.