The appearance by Siemens Drive Technologies at the IFRA 2008 trade fair in Amsterdam will focus on modular automation solutions for printing machines and retrofit concepts. Modular software and integrated communication solutions shorten the time-to-market for machine manufacturers, while providing the user with a secure investment. These products include the Register Control system and the Printstandard program, both of which are inte-grated in Simotion. Siemens will also be showing solutions for the modernization of central automation components of printing machines. With retrofit concepts, printing machines can be upgraded to meet current demands for greater productivity and product quality.

Productivity, efficiency, flexibility and maximized product quality: In the newspaper industry, these are requirements aimed at by both machine manufacturers and graphics companies. Especially printers must be able to react flexibly to new market needs. Given their very long investment cy-cles, machines and installations must be capable of meeting the demands of the future and, at the same time, must allow additions and conversions. Integrated drive systems and complete automa-tion solutions form the basis for fulfillment of such technical requirements.

At this year's IFRA, Siemens will be exhibiting drive systems based on the Sinamics series as well as Motion Control solutions with Profinet. Motion Control programs such as Register Control can be integrated in the Simotion control module without the need for any additional hardware. A pow-erful Register Control system can considerably shorten the setup time, greatly reduce spoilage and substantially enhance printing quality. The Register Control system from Siemens directly com-bines innovative camera technology with the Simotion control module, thus creating the precondi-tions that are necessary for rapid data exchange. Process data are collected directly from the drive control system and actuating signals are sent to the drives via internal interfaces with almost no delay.
The Register Control solution from Siemens is suitable for all printing methods and machines and can easily be adapted to the respective application. Operator control and visualization of the regis-ter control process are carried out by means of the "WinCC" system. Live camera pictures facilitate setup and monitoring where lighting conditions, materials and print marking are unfavorable.

For the graphics industry, Siemens also supplies the Printstandard software package. It provides predefined operating modes for all axis-related functions of a printing machine. The virtual master axis is used as a machine master value with positioning functionality, or for a combination of axes with a synchronous operating function. Several virtual masters and a high nesting depth of syn-chronous relationships are possible, as well as synchronous relationships between real axes with a setpoint and with actual-value coupling (real master function). Virtual and real axes are treated equally during engineering. In addition, tested typical applications are available for engineering. Printstandard also features an interface for integration of the Register Control system.

For retaining the value of machines and improving their productivity, Siemens offers special retrofit solutions. At some time during the many years of a printing machine's useful life, market require-ments and operating parameters in the graphics industry change. The modernization of drives and automation systems can enable the printing machine to meet new requirements. These range from demands for higher precision, such as exact detection of a residual reel's diameter on an un-winder, to special information for management systems for cost allocation and re-costing, or re-mote diagnosis and remote maintenance by means of online services. In many cases today, a specifically selected retrofit can enable a machine to be adapted to the needs of a modern print shop quickly and inexpensively. The Sinamics family of drives is especially suitable for such retrofit projects.

Sinamics S120 from Siemens is a drive system for high-performance single-axis and multiple-axis applications in the printing industry. For single-axis applications where a retrofit is called for, AC/AC devices with a wide performance spectrum are available. For the modular structure of mul-tiple-axis applications, Siemens Drive Technologies offers a range of compact DC/AC modules. The Sinamics S120 drive system features additionally integrated safety functions, which support the implementation of innovative safety concepts while fully complying with existing standards.

The Printstandard software package from Siemens Drive Technologies provides predefined oper-ating modes for all axis-related functions of a printing machine. The virtual master axis is used as a machine master value with positioning functionality, or for a combination of axes with a synchro-nous operating function. Several virtual masters and a high nesting depth of synchronous relation-ships are possible.

Courtesy of Siemens