Operate Anywhere! One Touch Operation from manroland web systems Convinces Industry Experts

For its appearance at the World Publishing Expo 2012, manroland web systems will focus on the new One Touch operating concept for webfed presses. In the future, the latest touchscreen technology, such as MobilPads and UnitPads for the control of printing units during maintenance procedures, will replace conventional operating keyboards and keypads. This makes manroland web systems an early adopter of successful mobile communications technology for greater efficiency in print production.

During the first demonstrations at drupa, responses from the general public ranged from “It’s a whole new generation!” to “Practical – it saves time and money”, and even “That’s the future right before our eyes!”. Expert feedback at the stand was impressed to enthusiastic. For many stand visitors, One Touch from manroland web systems will be the highlight of the World Publishing Expo 2012. Athesia Druck in Bolzano, Italy, was the first customer to choose the new technology. “Our brand-new COLORMAN XXL autoprint will also be equipped with the latest operating technology. We were excited and convinced by what we saw in Düsseldorf at drupa,” said Athesia Production Director Sigmund Pernter, explaining the decision for the One Touch concept.

From press operator to process manager

One Touch is the general operating philosophy that guides the Web 2.0 generation of press operators: All relevant information is available at a glance, with intuitive touch control. Anytime and anywhere. Today, these ideas have become the benchmark for press facility operating systems. manroland web systems formulated the One Touch strategy of the press operator as production manager back in 2008. This line of development started with the automation of production runs, changeovers, and production planning, complemented by modules such as APL logistics and the Inline Control systems for closed-loop quality and production control. With the new, uniform operating system for newspaper printing and heatset web offset presses, this vision has now become a reality. The concept defines the press operator as a production process manager and supervisor. The market leader in web offset printing has set yet another benchmark for the graphics industry.

Optimization phase complete

In the past months, the engineers in Augsburg have taken the system one more step towards series maturity. Both ideas and suggestions from operators and scientific usability studies, as well as the needs of pilot customers were integrated in the system. Even more functions, such as ink zones and registers, can be actuated via gestures and group selection. The system has non-glare operating screens and intelligently designed displays. Operators can see everything that is important for production progress and where they can make improvements at a glance. In addition, images from WLAN webcams can be accessed from the ControlCenter and MobilPad, e.g. to monitor reel storage or the transport of copies to the mailroom. The ControlCenter and PressManager are linked online for job preparation. The production plan is also provided on the ControlPad with intuitive touch operation.

Available as standard and retrofit, not only for manroland customers

(Beyond the world of manroland web systems)