Reliability evaluation of a multi-motor drive system for daily newspaper printing plants

Nowadays the printing plants of a daily newspaper are characterized by a complex architecture that involves electric, electronic and mechanical parts. This contribution deals with the evaluation, in terms of service continuity, of the main factors that reduce reliability in rotary printing plants. This examination has been realised observing and collecting, during a period of five years, all the failures occurred to a whole printing plant based on a multi-motor drive system. The faults that stop production can be divided into four categories: electric, mechanical, transport system and other failures. The results achieved show that the main reason for duty interruptions comes from electric faults: in particular the real weak point is in the electronic control of the drive system that creates frequent and unexpected stops. An economic evaluation underlines that an advanced drive system, with a full electronic control, is the best solution in printing plants in terms of quality, reliability and costs