New controls improve reel quality

Bristol, UK, based Reel Technical Service (RTS) has recently upgraded the control system on a two-drum slitter rewinder at Merit Paper Co, of Canada.

"The original control system was very temperamental and difficult to maintain," explains Merit Paper's president John Kempton. He adds: "After receiving proposals from various companies we chose RTS as we felt their technical solution and experience best suited our requirements".

Explains shift manager Gordon Kempton: "The new system will help us improve finished reel quality, as we can now save job settings for recall at a later date, which is very important to us as we process a wide range of papers."

Jon Rowen, from RTS, adds: "The new control system consists of an Allen-Bradley PLC and operator interface, with a modem for remote diagnostics. To ensure optimum web tension, an ABB tension controller has been used, which is interfaced to the PLC. The new control system has been integrated with the machine's existing remote IO and drive system."

RTS provides technical and engineering services to the paper and converting industries, specializing in slitter rewinders. The company has a global customer base and carries out services such as routine maintenance, machine rebuilds and upgrades as well as supplying drive and control systems, for example.