Located in Düsseldorf, Germany - periodically the DRUPA centre of the print industry - the Rheinische Post is accustomed to keeping up to date.

Among latest developments at Rheinische Bergische Druckerei, which prints the Post and other titles, is a programme to modernise controls on its KBA Commander press.

An order placed with ABB through Koenig & Bauer, covers the replacement of the control systems on two towers and the turner bar units associated with two folders.

The project sees the use of ABB's footprint-compatible adapters that have exactly the same form, dimensions and connections as the original KT94 CPUs and CS31 I/O devices. The adapters mean that modern ABB AC500 PLCs and I/Os can be installed easily whilst retaining the original wiring. In addition, the compatibility of the new and old systems means that the original controls can be replaced on a step-by-step basis.

The additional processing power provided by the AC500 PLC also means that the number of CPUs required for the tower control systems can be halved.

Thomas Troendle, ABB Printing's sales manager for Germany, says the project helps ensure reliability while eliminating difficulties with the availability of spare parts. "The modular retrofit on two towers frees up parts that can be used as spares for other press units," he says.

Commissioning of the new systems will begin in Duesseldorf at the end of August.