Harland Simon Replaces Aberdeen Journals' Press Controls

Harland Simon, Milton Keynes, England, will replace the press-control system at Aberdeen Journals Ltd., part of Britain's D.C. Thomson group.

Harland Simon already had upgraded the 1991 Allen-Bradley system in 2001 while Aberdeen Journals was still part of the Northcliffe Print group. At that time, control consoles and the management system were replaced but most of the I/O was left in place to reduce cost and disruption.

"The controls upgrade is not as a result of problems with the existing system, although many components have become obsolete, but is a reflection of the confidence we have in our future," Aberdeen Journals Assistant Managing Director Raymond McRobbie said in a statement. "This upgrade will in effect give us a brand new control system with many day-to-day operational benefits and at the same time secure our production into the future".

Harland Simon will upgrade consoles with a new user interface and underlying architecture and replace proprietary processors used to simplify the original press upgrade with off-the-shelf Allen-Bradley plcs. Siemens plcs used when the press was extended also will be replaced by Allen-Bradley equipment.