The (New York) Daily News tapped vR Systems to supply it with an automated roll handling system to feed its new pressline.

The paper last month said it would buy a 15-tower Koenig & Bauer AG Commander CT press to replace its current press technology in its Jersey City, N.J., plant (see Newspapers & Technology, March 2008).



Photo: VR Systems
VR’s roll technology will sit parallel to the Daily News’ press.
 

The vR system includes a full roll preparation line with an automated EcoPrep splice preparation system, said Ric Mayle, vice president of sales and marketing at IMC America, which distributes vR in North America.

The system, which can store hundreds of newsprint rolls, will be designed six rolls high and one roll wide and parallel the KBA pressline, Mayle said. It’s the third such system vR (formerly Metso/vonRoll) has installed in North America, but the first engineered six-high.

By sitting parallel with the press, the roll handling system will occupy a minimum amount of space, Mayle said, a key consideration at the Daily News’ Liberty View plant.

VR’s RoAd tracking software monitors the various rolls within the system and communicates with each of the press’ Pastomat reelstands to automatically deliver the proper grade and weight of newsprint, Mayle said. Two EcoPrep robots, meantime, apply paste preparation strips. Outside of stripping the rolls, the entire system is completely automated, Mayle said.

The Daily News will be the first U.S. paper to use the EcoPrep robots, which are in operation at several European newspapers.

Mayle said the roll handling system is currently in use at 14 newspapers worldwide.