2005-10-03: You´ll never print alone!
Efficient data networks bring printing companies and suppliers closer together

A smooth production sequence, especially in the fields of newspaper and heatset web offset printing with their high hourly machine rates, requires ever more sophisticated logistics. Both the operational safety and reliability of the printing press, together with its peripheral systems, availability of ink and paper must be permanently and carefully monitored. Operation must be restored with minimum delay when required. The responsible suppliers and system partners can be integrated into this monitoring process by linking them via the internet and a modem. An increasing number of printing equipment manufacturers and suppliers of peripheral units also offer options for remote diagnosis This means that the printing press control station or the upstream systems themselves, have an online connection with the supplier's service dept. In case of a fault, the technicians can prepare a diagnosis quickly and offer a suitable solution.

technotrans AG, a system provider for offset printing equipment with its headquarters in Sassenberg in the Muensterland has now moved the printing companies even closer to the suppliers.

"We have been offering our customers solutions for recording and evaluating operating data for quite a long time." explains Thomas Hartung, product manager for centralised ink supply systems at the Augsburg subsidiary of technotrans AG, "The calcu.ink flow meter system enables measuring the ink consumption per machine and ink type either for each job or as a monthly or annual value." This is achieved by a flow rate measuring head installed in the ink supply tubing. The measured ink consumption data is transmitted to the display module on the control station. "These values may also be directly fed into the customer's computer network via the data server of our office.line system" says Hartung.

In addition to the ink consumption display, the printing press control station also includes other important interfaces, e.g. for level monitoring in the ink ducts, for tank filling level display and, of course, fault display and maintenance. Upon request by the customer, technotrans can specify these interfaces even in more detail. A modem and the technotrans information system, now provide the connection out to the world. For instance to the ink supplier , that is informed about tank filling levels online and can thus prepare corresponding just-in-time deliveries. After all, in a newspaper printing company we are talking about large tanks with a capacity of up to 30,000 kg of ink. Such quantities cannot just be taken from the shelf.

It goes without saying that an comprehensive overview of the ink consumption at the customers represents a significant benefit for the ink producers as well. Production can be planned better, and information about which quantities of which material are needed during what period is available at any time. Waiting times in the printing companies due to extended delivery times from the ink works can be a thing of the past. Moreover, the transparent overall consumption, e.g. during one year, makes negotiations about quantity discounts and special terms easier for the printing company. Finally, the cost savings resulting from reduced administration efforts in the printing companies and the ink works can be reflected in the prices the end user has to pay.

"Besides the ink supply, the proper function of the connected peripheral units such as dampening solution circulation, ink unit temperature control and printing press cooling, naturally plays an important role in the availability and performance of the printing production facility" explains Andreas Harig, head of product management in the PRINT division of technotrans AG.

"Our new multicom control system that is currently being introduced into the dampening solution, cooling and temperature control technology product series offers interesting possibilities and options that point the way ahead." For instance, the modular multicom control system can be equipped with different displays from a simple monochrome unit up to the comfortable 15" colour touch screen for operation and process data visualisation.

At the same time, the systems provides both different data interfaces for connecting it to the respective printing press control station system and an ethernet interface for direct remote diagnosis via the internet and independently of the printing press control station.

Here remote diagnosis by the technotrans service technicians allows not only a quick analysis of the cause and solutions in case of technical faults, but also and above all an evaluation of the current process on the basis of the transmitted process data. Especially in the field of dampening solution circulation, the measured values recorded, transmitted via the internet and visualised e.g. as a time-related trend can provide valuable information about the status of the dampening solution "system" which, as we all know, is subject to a whole series of complex interactions with paper, ink and chemicals.

"All in all, we consider remote diagnosis via the internet to be an ideal way for comprehensive, quick,detailed examination and assessment of the connected system, and thus can make a positive contribution to safeguard and even improve printing press availability which, in the present situation of the printing industry, has assumed a very important role" explains Andreas Harig.

"As Mr Harig has mentioned, our range of products of course goes far beyond ink supply systems." explains Thomas Hartung, "Dampening solution circulators and ink unit temperature control systems were our main products when technotrans started. Over the years, we added measuring and dosing equipment, spray dampening units, coating supply units, washing agent recycling units and complex filtration systems.

We are currently in the process of moving our South German subsidiary from Stadtbergen to Gersthofen where a new production facility for up to 150 employees is built on a considerably larger piece of land. In the last quarter of 2005, we will integrate cleaning systems into our product range that will be built there in addition to ink supply systems. A large number of these installations and systems can be comfortably checked via an online connection, either directly via the internet or indirectly by a connection with the printing press control station. Both configurations guarantee that our service technicians can see any occurring faults just in time on their monitors.

"We know from experience that the most important thing for our customers is system availability and production safety" Mr Hartung continues. "The latter is considerably increased by the fact that all parties involved, even those outside of the printing company, are always informed about the present state of affairs without delay."

These press releases contain forward-looking statements which are based on assumptions and estimations by the management board of technotrans AG. Even though the management board is of the opinion, that those assumptions and estimations are realistic the future development and the projected results may deviate substantially from the forward-looking statements. Those deviations can be due to several factors including but not limited to changes in the macro-economic situation, in the exchange rates, in the interest rates and in the graphic arts industry. technotrans AG gives no warranty and does not assume the liability for any damages in case the future development and the projected results do not correspond with the forward looking statements.