Goss Undertakes Comprehensive Controls Upgrade for Swiss Press

Goss International is undertaking a comprehensive press controls upgrade for Zehnder Print AG, in Switzerland's St. Gallen region, where it is installing new hardware and software systems to deliver more advanced capabilities to the 2x1 Goss Universal press.

Comprising six four-high towers, one folder, one dryer and eight reelstands, Zehnder Print's Goss Universal is used for both heatset and coldset production, with demand for the former growing steadily in recent years. The turnkey project involves replacing Allen Bradley press controls and proprietary systems to create an open systems architecture.

Working in cooperation with Harland Simon, Goss International will replace desks and separate quality-control hardware with three new combined consoles to manage all aspects of print control, including presetting, planning, monitoring and reporting. Electronic modules in each printing unit as well as electrical boards for the control of inking and dampening, also will be replaced with JDF-compliant systems.

The project will automate and integrate all auxiliary systems, including reelstands and controls for color, cut-off and web tension. A standard Ethernet network and unit input/output controls will enable the press to be supported by remote diagnostics, enabling Goss technicians to provide with round-the-clock assistance in the case of technical difficulties.

"The new electrical architecture is designed for low maintenance with redundancy of the existing systems and components as required," Goss International Customer Service Manager Stéphane Jaunasse said in a statement.

"They have come up with a solution which allows us to eliminate components as they become obsolete while providing a growth path for any necessary future additions,' Zehnder Production Director Alexander Honsel said.

The existing system will remain operational until the new controls infrastructure is fully tested, at Goss' facility in France and at Zehnder Print.

Besides The Wall Street Journal and International Herald Tribune, Zehnder prints 32 weeklies and a variety of national magazines. The company continues to gain semi-commercial heatset work for products such as inserts and circulars - cited as a factor in the decision to upgrade.