Glass bottle manufacturer opts for decentralised drives
Third Quarter 2004
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
The installation of a complete new line at Consol Glass' bottle manufacturing plant at Clayville, Johannesburg has involved the changeover from installing central drives on separate panels to the use of fully integrated decentralised drives.
As part of this project, which was principally contracted to systems integrators high tech systems, Danfoss was asked to supply the drives. In previous applications at Clayville, Danfoss would supply drives and Consol would make up one panel for each drive, or else install all equipment in a central panel.
Using the Danfoss FCD300 product range, which comes fully integrated, Consol Glass has been able to do away with using panels. The FCD300 comes with IP66, has an isolator on board and runs on a Profibus network. With a 24 V power failure back-up option, should there be a power failure the drives can be continually monitored and then prepared for restart once the mains power is restored.
In certain cases there is still a need for central drives, which the Danfoss VLT2800 can be used to accommodate.
The FCD300 drive units are easy to swap out if faults do occur, without the need to remove any of the wiring or cabling, as a simple four-screw system allows a change of drive within two minutes. The IP66 enclosure means the units can be sprayed down with water and cope with dust and dirt in the working environment, so the chances of a failure due to external factors are minimised.
Although the decentralised concept may appear more costly at first glance, the savings on the use of less power cabling, less control cabling, and easier fault control, more than compensate for the initial investment made.
Says Johan Pool, who is the process electronics manager at the Consol Glass head office in Wadeville, "We have been more than satisfied with the running of the decentral drives in our new line. Operators no longer have handheld terminals where the settings can be altered, as the operation is all run from the PLC via the Profibus network. This means less unwanted changes being made and more control of the system overall".
Over a hundred drives were supplied by Danfoss and while most were off-the-shelf items, Danfoss customised some options to suit the requirements of its customer. Danfoss' matrix ordering system allows ease of customising the drive the customer requires. This can be done via the Danfoss website on the drive configurator, or the Danfoss sales department can assist the customer personally.
For more information contact David Dyce, sales engineer, Danfoss Drives, +27 (0) 11 803 8390, [email protected], www.danfoss.co.za
Further reading:
New generation low power frequency inverters
Bearing Man Group T/A BMG
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
New to BMG’s electromechanical range are energy-efficient Synergy PI150 series frequency inverters, which have been designed for efficient use in many applications.
Read more...
Planar motor system for quality assurance
Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Achieving the shortest possible inspection times, even when working with different components, is paramount when it comes to series production. This is precisely what special machine builder, stoba Sondermaschinen set out to achieve with its InspectorONE optical inspection system, which is based on deep learning and features the Beckhoff XPlanar planar motor system at the conveyor system core.
Read more...
Siemens elevates automotive and aerospace simulation
Siemens South Africa
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced the latest update to its Simcenter portfolio, delivering advancements in aerostructure analysis, electric motor design, gear optimisation and smart virtual sensing. These enhancements are designed to streamline workflows, accelerate certification and provide deeper insights into system performance.
Read more...
Turbomachinery controls: the call of duty
Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
There’s a lot to be said about the unsung heroes of this world; those men, women and machines that deliver such important functions, often overlooked and recognised. One such machine is turbomachinery, and while the name does sound quite obvious to the layman, its rich history and daily functions are not.
Read more...
More movement in the market
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Aerotech aims to revolutionise the market for precision motion and machine controls with an intuitive control platform.
Read more...
Motion technology for all types of automation
Bearing Man Group T/A BMG
News & events Electrical switching & drive systems & components
BMG has been appointed by The Timken Company as a distributor in southern Africa for the Rollon linear motion guidance system.
Read more...
Servo motor series for explosive environments with expanded certification
Parker Hannifin - Sales Company South Africa
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Parker Hannifin’s ongoing commitment to safety and performance in hazardous environments is evident in the new certifications and product improvements for its EY and EX servo motor series.
Read more...
The world’s most powerful worm
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Geothermal energy from the natural heat of the Earth is an inexhaustible resource, yet the growth of the global geothermal power sector lags behind other renewable energies. Now Swiss startup, Borobotics is hoping to speed this up with its innovative new electric-powered geothermal drilling robot, which can be used to fast-track and lower the cost of heat pump installations in confined spaces.
Read more...
The impact of gearless mill drive technology on CO2 emissions
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
ABB has released an in-depth white paper detailing the vital role that gearless grinding technologies can play in driving productivity in mining while simultaneously reducing their carbon footprint.
Read more...
Revolutionising TIG welding for aerospace manufacturing
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Yaskawa Southern Africa has partnered with Aerosud Aviation, a leading aerospace manufacturer, to implement a cutting-edge robotic TIG welding solution tailored to the exacting demands of aerospace production.
Read more...
printer friendly version