Commercial printer Advance Central Services Alabama selects Manroland to upgrade, modernize press controls on Geoman press at its Mobile, Alabama, facility; company provides print, technology, circulation services for Alabama Media Group

Aimee Bellah

LISLE, Illinois , June 11, 2014 (press release) – Company will upgrade and retrofit GEOMAN press equipment at Mobile production facility with new state-of-the art technology

To support its growing commercial print business, Advance Central Services Alabama has selected manroland web systems Inc. to upgrade and modernize the existing electrical components and press controls installed on the GEOMAN press at its Mobile, Alabama production facility.

The project, with installation of upgrades and retrofits scheduled over the course of 2014 and 2015, is an example of manroland web systems’ multi-phase installation approach in which work schedules are carefully managed to not interfere with production.

“The approach of manroland web systems regarding upgrades and retrofits is to fully utilize the existing infrastructure of the press, and only replace those components which will improve performance and have an impact on productivity,” North American CEO Greg Blue says. “In collaboration with the customer, we determine what upgrades have a positive cost-to-benefit ratio consistent with their needs. With Advance Central Services Alabama, we’ve come up with a great plan which we are confident will impact press performance immediately upon installation.”

Included in the upgrade package is a retrofit of the PECOM ControlDesk System, containing new server hardware with a high-level redundant backup concept to greatly increase press availability.

In addition to the ControlDesk System, a new PPM server will replace discontinued hardware used for Product Planning. Advance Central Services Alabama opted to integrate the full package of reporting tools for pressmen, maintenance staff, shift leaders, and management to gain statistics and get access to the press data.

Unit controllers supplied by manroland’s preferred manufacturer, PHOENIX, the world leader in state-of-the-art controls technology, will replace the existing proprietary unit controllers throughout the press, interfacing existing interbus hardware. Reelstands, printing towers, turnerbar and folder controllers, as well as safety and section controllers, will be replaced. The integration of the new hardware from PHOENIX into the existing press components on the GEOMAN press will be performed seamlessly.

The integration of a new Automation Diagnostic Server (ADS) will not only allow manroland web systems factory-trained technicians to complete online diagnostics remotely, but also increase onsite maintenance and troubleshooting capability for in-house press crews. Additionally, the revised press drawings and manuals for the newly installed equipment are stored for easy access on the ADS. Hands-on training for use of the ADS will be performed with press crews as a part of the installation process.

In addition to serving commercial print customers, Advance Central Services Alabama provides production, circulation, strategic sourcing, accounting, technology, human resources and other critical support functions for Alabama Media Group, the leading media company in Alabama, which includes The Birmingham News, Press-Register, The Huntsville Times, The Mississippi Press and AL.com. For more information about Advance Central Services Alabama’s commercial print services, including capabilites and contact information, please visit acsal.com/commercial_printing.html.

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