The Natal Witness Printing Company is relying on Tectra Automation, local distributor of Bosch Rexroth products and components, for support of its modern KBA Comet shaftless printing press, manufactured by Koenig & Bauer AG in Germany.
A schematic of the KBA Comet shaftless printing press
The multimillion-rand investment, one of the most advanced shaftless presses in South Africa, employs various Bosch Rexroth components to print up to 70 000 copies an hour of the Natal Witness and various other publications. A single-width, double-circumference, fully-computerised press, the KBA Comet uses shaftless technology and damping systems, as well as a turret paster, which automatically replaces and joins one paper reel with the next without interrupting the print run.
Rexroth's Electric Drives and Control division, formerly Indramat, pioneered shaftless drive technology. Today, its SYNAX technology allows for the elimination of mechanical linkages and the use of high-precision servo drives produces machine units that are optimised to the process. This allows repetitive jobs to be completed rapidly and converting processes changed over flexibly to new products and formats at the touch of a button. Machine axes can be synchronised to specific requirements by means of various operating modes. The SYNAX200 modular controls and intelligent drives are the basis for the development of modular machine designs. High register accuracy - thanks to low torsional elasticities and gear backlash - results in considerably less start-up waste. This reduces manufacturing costs and makes the production of small editions more economical.
The modern press, housed in Pietermaritzburg, incorporates 38 Bosch Rexroth drive stations with the latest DIAX 04 servo drives, MHD motors, DKR drives and 2AD asynchronous motors specifically selected for the synchronisation of the shaftless printing press. MHD motors are known for synchronisation of shaftless printing presses, because of their high resolution, high-dynamic nature. DIAX 04 servo drives deliver further speed advantages by allowing control loops to be handled via fibre optic cables.
With the advantages that shaftless printing presses have over synchronised predecessors, the press now runs significantly faster (at 625 m per minute), and setup-times have been reduced from 5 hours down to 1 hour. Capacity has been sufficiently increased to allow various other newspapers and inserts to be handled by the same new printing press. Although operators received training from KBA and greatly reduced maintenance as a result of the press's modern design, the high-value investment requires the close proximity of Bosch Rexroth qualified support technicians, who will be supplied by Tectra Automation. Computerised control allows faultfinding to be carried out from as far away as Germany, via the Internet. The press uses SERCOS - the preferred digital interface between motion control components and digital drives.
First recyclable plastic bicycle frame igus
Other technologies
Industrial polymer developer and manufacturer, igus has unveiled the first injection-moulded polymer bicycle frame designed for advanced bikes, marking a major milestone in sustainable mobility
Read more...Vibration test system supports international space industry TANDM Technologies
Other technologies
Dragonfly Aerospace has launched EOS SAT-1, one of seven satellites in the world’s first agricultural-focused constellation. With optimisation of resources being a key component for Dragonfly, it called on TANDM to assist in creating and heavily expanding its environmental testing capabilities by providing a vibration test system that allowed it to perform in-house vibration and shock testing.
Read more...Addressing water conservation challenges
Other technologies
A recent report by the University of California underscores the urgent need for innovative strategies to improve water conservation efforts. David Strain, director at Technidrive, and an expert on integrated automation systems, explains why quarrying thickeners have emerged as a promising solution.
Read more...Oil quality sensors for lubrication management
Other technologies
In an era where operational efficiency and machine health are critical, oil quality sensors are indispensable tools for successful lubrication management.
Read more...New lubrication-free rod ends igus
Other technologies
The constant need for relubrication of metallic bearing points on rod ends in industrial applications is a time-consuming and expensive exercise and poses a real contamination risk. As a result, igus has developed maintenance-free polymer-hybrid spherical bearings which are a safer and more cost-effective alternative.
Read more...Millions of tons of grease and oil in our waterways and environment igus
Other technologies
Shocking statistics reveal that approximately 50% of lubricants used on industrial machines and equipment eventually makes their way into the environment, where just one litre of used oil has the capacity to poison about a million litres of water.
Read more...Versatile lubricants for all applications
Other technologies
Good lubrication reduces friction, which in turn increases the lifespan of mechanical components. Commercial products that are used in intensive applications like wire ropes at mining and mining processing facilities are not always considered for other less intensive uses.
Read more...Articulated forklift truck revolutionises warehouse operations
Other technologies
With the warehouse industry requiring ever-greater efficiencies, Toyota Material Handling has introduced an articulated forklift truck that revolutionises warehouse operations and promises heightened agility, unmatched precision, and elevated safety standards.
Read more...Smart lubrication management solutions for agriculture SKF South Africa
Other technologies
The developments in agricultural equipment to meet the increasing demand for higher efficiencies, performance, reliability, and reduced emissions are resulting in tolerances becoming finer and finer.SKF has developed a sophisticated range of lubricants and application systems that address these requirements.
printer friendly version