Press maker Goss International is one of five companies worldwide honoured by Siemens for its use of to the German company’s automation technology.

The 2012 customer excellence award recognises its application of Siemens drive technology to deliver advanced automation and product performance in Goss web presses.

Goss research and development senior vice president Jeff Upchurch says the company is especially delighted as automation is part of a long-term mission: “We are streamlining press and finishing system performance, including job changeover processes, with a comprehensive approach aimed at automating, simplifying or even eliminating steps,” he says.

“Results can create new market opportunities for web printers allowing them to compete at run lengths that were formerly in the domain of sheetfed printers.”

Other winners were Conoco Phillips, Fori Automation, Lockheed Martin and GT Advanced Technologies.

The awards were presented in Washington, DC as part of the International Automation Summit. Judges said Goss used motion control and automation to realise repeatable and scalable solutions for web presses and finishing equipment. Goss implemented Siemens’ Simatic S7, Simotion and Sinamics control platforms.

Research and development manager Mike Rancourt accepted the award on behalf of Goss.