The development of the latest version of QTMS, which Prism dubs intelligent QTMS (iQ) has moved the product from being a shopfloor data collection system to a "production controller".

"There is a trend towards production control rather than downtime management," said Prism Europe general manager David Dunbavand. "We had to adapt to the changing needs of the industry."

With iQ Prism has made the software modular, so users only install elements as and when they need them. Dunbavand said that this makes the system much cheaper and quicker to implement. So far around 30 firms have taken elements of iQ in the field.

"I picture a cockpit of data showing where all elements of a job are," he said. "So people on the shopfloor know where they are."

With iQ users install a base module onto which they can add the appropriate modules for each piece of kit. Modules include web press, reelstand, binder and sheetfed press. The next element to be added will be pallet tracking.

Prism's deal with Ferag covers the development of a module called iQ Ferag that connects the Unidrum to  QTMS . It instantly provides a unified system to control and monitor the entire line, which as standard is controlled by a touch screen at each module such as the gatherer or stacker. According to Dunbavand Ferag considered developing a system itself before it saw QTMS. One advantage for Ferag was that the use of the QTMS interface immediately provides JDF compatibility.

The next stage of development with Ferag will be the development of control and tracking of the inserter, which will be of particular interest to publishers. "The next level will be to develop the control and tracking of the inserter so you can report back on the accuracy of the insertion to the publisher," said Dunbavand.

Story by Barney Cox