Dutch publisher DPG Media is to upgrade production software using ABB's virtualised MPS Production 6 and Inform, adding a new control console application.

The Amsterdam-based group produces top-selling dailies including Algemeen Dagblad and De Volkskrant - which have a combined print run of more than 600,000 copies - as well as popular national magazines including Autotrack, Donald Duck and Libelle.

MPS Production enables the planning of print products, and maps presses installed on site. The latest version replaces obsolete operating systems and cut maintenance and preparation time, start-up waste and ink and water use. The entire system has been converted to run with the PostgreSQL open source database.

MPS Inform is a data analysis system helping operators gather reports, and can include statistics on production faults, operating sequences, material consumption and operation hours.

Technical service head Jules de Corte said the company was "leaning on the expertise of ABB, as we have done in the past", to bring equipment set-up forward again in terms of the latest technologies.

"Virtualisation means we have independence from reliance on specific hardware and operating system lifecycles. Our applications can be moved to a new platform seamlessly and we also have the security of backed-up copies using MPS software."

ABB will also upgrade MPS Control Console using the new ABB Compact HMI (human-machine interface) platform, with all PCs replaced with Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB and new 16:9 monitors.

ABB head of printing Damian Staedeli said technologies were moving at pace. "We have the distinct domain and company knowledge of DPG Media and its systems and look forward to a successful installation campaign, and ultimately our customer reaping the rewards in terms of speed and harnessing the power of additional data on their operations."

All of the upgrades are scheduled for delivery, installation and engineering at DPG Media in early 2021.