Integrated drive packages for the graphics industry and modular automation solutions for printing machines are the focal points of the presentation made by Siemens Drive Technologies at the Drupa 2008 trade fair in Düsseldorf.

Modular software and integrated communications solutions shorten the time to market for machine manufacturers, and offer a high level of investment security to users. The solutions include integrated register control and the Printstandard software package, both of which can be integrated seamlessly into the Simotion controller. Safety functions included in the Sinamics drive system as well as logistics systems with RFID round off the product range.

Maximum productivity with stable quality and high flexibility for many different printing tasks – these demands are associated with the production of printed material, for example newspapers, magazines, flyers, packaging or books. Powerful automation and drive solutions form the basis of future-oriented and productive machines for sheet or web-fed printing and for the further processing of printed material. At this year's Drupa, Siemens Drive Technologies will present integrated drive systems and complete automation solutions for the graphics industry.

The focal points of the Siemens presentation are systems based on the Sinamics range of drives as well as motion control solutions with Profinet. An example is the integrated register control which can be integrated into the Simotion controller without additional hardware requirements. Siemens additionally offers the Printstandard software package for the graphics industry.

Profinet with Industrial Realtime (IRT) will also be presented, and is suitable as an integrated communications solution particularly for multi-axis applications in the graphics industry, for example with illustration and newspaper rotary offset machines and for the further processing of printed material. Up to 80 axes are coordinated in order to guarantee production, for example, in an illustration rotary offset machine with several printing groups, folding apparatus and folder. The axes are distributed on axis networks with Simotion D and Sinamics, and communicate over IRT Profinet. In addition to real-time communication, Profinet is also used for IT tasks such as HMI or diagnostics. In this case, the OPC XML server integrated in Simotion D is accessed which is at process level and provides drive data.

The Sinamics S120 available from Siemens offers the printing industry a drive system for both high-performance single-axis applications and multi-axis applications. A wide range of AC/AC devices with different performances is available for single-axis applications, for example for retrofitting. Siemens Drive Technologies offers compact DC/AC modules for the modular design of multi-axis applications. The Sinamics S120 drive system also has additional integrated safety functions. These support the implementation of innovative safety concepts with complete observation of existing standards. The safety functions Safe Stop 2, Safe Operating Stop, Safe Brake Ramp, Safely-Limited Speed and Safe Speed Monitor supplement the basic safety functions previously integrated.

Energy efficiency and the capability for energy regeneration are of increasing importance for drive systems in the production industry. This technology has already become established in the printing industry for high performance requirements. "Smart Infeed" and "Active Infeed" from Siemens Drive Technologies are two regenerative concepts for the Sinamics range of drives. The current from the regenerative operation of drives is fed back into the network. Depending on the requirements of the application and its environment, Smart Infeed is suitable as the standard solution or Active Infeed for particularly high plant availability and network quality.

The Siemens range is supplemented by water-cooled and air-cooled servomotors as well as linear and torque motors. As a result of the increased use of direct drives in the printing industry, it is becoming increasingly important to select the correct drive solution already at the design stage. Siemens provides support in this context by means of the Mechatronic Support service with which the drive system of a machine can already be appropriately selected and optimized during the design phase. Powerful simulation tools simplify commissioning, and can also be used to train operators.

Courtesy of Siemens