The PC is generally regarded as a universal machine – but does that also apply to industrial automation, where separate PLC and CNC controllers are firmly established? Schleicher’s controller concept based on the ProNumeric IPC system proves that it does. Our technological solution is a first in press control, and has been implemented as part of the recent modernization at Blechformwerke Bernsbach, a car components supplier in eastern Germany. It is based on a combination of fast linear feeders, path optimization by the CNC controller integrated in the IPC, and IPC-based visualization. The PC is also the “communication centre”, with interfacing for field bus (CANopen), Ethernet and Sercos. The concept achieves faster handling, safe coordinated press operation and greater flexibility. This gives the press system added reliability for meeting the ever-growing challenges of the car components business (just-in-time, rush jobs). Each press has to be capable of operating singly or linked to others, while still remaining capable of processing the full range of parts. The watchword is “flexible specialization” – after all, the decisive advantage that small-scale specialists have over the big mass producers is their flexibility, because they are more customer-oriented and react more quickly to market developments. Until now reduced productivity was the price of this advantage, but the automation solution presented here allows short production runs (as well as medium and large volumes) and practically does away with the disadvantages. [more]