HK FAI SHING INT'L., LIMITED.

Schneider Electric has launched its Lexium 32 range, comprising three servo drives and two servomotor types.

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:57:19 +0000

The simplified drive range comes in a compact book style and has been developed to meet OEM architectures, with advanced tuning features and motors with a wide machine inertia.

Applications span a range of machinery, including printing, textiles, packaging and material working and handling.

These new products also work with the new book-style Altivar 32 range of variable-speed drives due to be launched by Schneider Electric in April; the Altivar 32 drives will feature at the Drives and Controls exhibition in June.

A key feature of the new Lexium range is its compact book size, which sees the servo drive, in combination with the servomotor, delivering maximum power in the minimum area, saving up to 50 per cent of the space in the machine control cabinet, according to the company.

With its breadth of fieldbus communication and encoder cards, the Lexium 32 range adapts to a variety of current architectures.

Paul Pryor of Schneider Electric said: ‘By rationalising our range, we are making product selection much simpler at the same time as offering a range of motion bundles that will suit a wide variety of applications.

‘For the OEM [original equipment manufacturer], this new product series offers a number of benefits, including the capability to improve performance and productivity and reduce machine costs with inbuilt safety functions.

‘With the Lexium 32’s compact design, there is also the added advantage of being able to offer best-in-class power density in small cabinets,’ he added.

The three servo-drive options are the 32C (compact) for simpler machines, the 32A (advanced) for motion-centric applications and the 32M (modular) for PLC-centric applications.

The two servomotor ranges, the BMH and BSH, are designed to meet demands for the high performance, power and simplicity of use in motion-control applications in power ratings between 0.15kW and 7kW.

The Lexium 32 servo-drive offer is designed to simplify the lifecycle of machines.

It is integrated into the Schneider Electric automation tool Somachine for efficient machine engineering, with side-by-side mounting and colour-coded plug-in connectors, facilitating installation, setup and maintenance.

Maintenance is also made quicker with new duplication and back-up tools.

Improved performance is delivered by the optimised motor control, which reduces vibration with automatic parameter calculation, speed observer and additional band-stop filter.

Depending on the model, the Lexium 32 servo-drive range has a variety of logic or analogue inputs and outputs as standard, which can be configured to suit each individual application.

It also has control interfaces to facilitate access to various architecture levels, including pulse train, a combined Canopen/Canmotion port for enhanced control system performance and access via communication cards to main communication networks and fieldbuses.

Protocols available include Devicenet, Ethernet/IP and Profibus DPV1.

The Lexium 32 drives also form part of the control’s safety system by integrating the ‘Safe Torque Off’ (STO) function, which prevents the unintended restarting of the servomotor.

This function complies with standard IEC/EN 61508 level SIL2, governing electrical installations, and the power drive systems standard IEC/EN 61800-1.

The range’s BMH and BSH servomotors are synchronous three-phase motors featuring a SinCos Hiperface encoder for sending data automatically from the servomotor to the servo drive and are available with or without a brake.

The compact motors offer a high power density and deliver precision and high dynamic performance with options available to suit most applications.

Consistency between the BSH and BSM increases potential efficiencies in machine design and reduces the coupling and cabling stocks required.

ShareThis

ABB drives’ influence in polymer production

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:05:42 +0000

Halcyon Drives has supplied an ABB industrial drive, set up in torque-control mode, to Kemira Chemicals of Bradford, a manufacturer of polymers for use in the water-treatment industries.

It is said that the installation of the drive had resulted in the avoidance of a potential GBP1,500 per hour of lost production.

The variable-speed drive is used to control a geared motor unit that drives the re-reeler - a cardboard core onto which a polythene sheet is wound as it comes off the tail end of a continuously moving conveyor belt.

The polythene sheeting is unwound and laid on top of the conveyor, allowing continuous reaction of the polymers to ensure that they do not come into contact with the conveyor belt.

ShareThis

plant productivity improved by GE Proficy Accelerator

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:17:30 +0000

GE has launched the the Proficy Accelerator for Centerlining, enabling continuous improvement and resolution of problems due to variability, in a move to full process reliability and stability.

The goal of the solution is to reduce costs due to material losses and other waste from process and product variability, as well as increase throughput and yield.

It focuses on rapidly identifying process and product inconsistencies, performing statistical analysis to improve control, and managing and improving operations in real-time.

Proficy Accelerator consists of out-of-the-box solutions that can rapidly demonstrate business value from the Proficy Software platform in as little as 30 days, with minimal risk.

GE has also introduced Proficy Accelerator for Production Efficiency, which allows manufacturers to maximise the utilisation of their plant assets.

It provides visibility into factors such as equipment downtime, changeover effectiveness, waste and operating efficiency.

It supports root-cause analysis by automatically linking downtime events to a specific cause in real time.

Proficy Accelerator for Change Management drives increased efficiency of personnel and productivity.

This solution helps organisations assess, monitor, manage, control and lower project and maintenance costs associated with software and device management.

Proficy Accelerator for Manufacturing Energy Management correlates energy costs with manufacturing production, rapidly enabling sustainable operation and energy-cost savings.

Proficy Accelerator for Packaging Performance utilises an operator-centric performance management paradigm to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), production rate, availability and order fulfillment, while reducing waste and labour costs.

This solution provides critical insight into high-speed packaging-line operations.

When fully implemented, customers have seen OEE increases of between five and 12 per cent on packaging lines over time.

ShareThis

Emerson Process Management

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:12:21 +0000

Emerson Process Management has released Version 5.4 of its asset-management software, AMS Suite: Machinery Health Manager, which includes wireless access to spectral waveform vibration diagnostics.

AMS Machinery Manager v5.4 augments its presentation of predictive diagnostics from all types of mechanical assets and enables the integration of the CSI 6500 Machinery Health Monitor protection and prediction system with either the DeltaV or Ovation digital automation system.

This solution integrates machinery health diagnostics information between the protection system, asset management software and control system.

This enables maintenance and operations personnel to access critical, real-time machinery health information that allows them to identify and resolve machinery issues before process interruptions occur.

Wireless vibration transmitters provide accurate vibration monitoring on mechanical assets, such as motors, fans and pumps.

AMS Machinery Manager v5.4 supports spectrum, waveform and trend vibration data from the CSI 9420 wireless vibration transmitter.

This information allows users to effectively manage the performance of rotating equipment through the analysis of key machinery health information.

Data can be imported on demand or at regularly scheduled intervals, based on specific maintenance and equipment needs.

Emerson’s CSI 9420 is the first vibration transmitter to use the IEC-approved Wirelesshart industry-standard protocol to deliver full vibration data for machinery health analysis.

In addition, users of the CSI 2130 machinery health analyser will benefit from new functionality in AMS Machinery Manager v5.4, including multiple route load, plotting tools for Bode and Nyquist plots, multiple trends displayed on a single plot and fault frequency displayed on Analyser Job data.

Expanded case history management in AMS Machinery Manager supports additional file types associated with individual case history entries.

AMS Machinery Manager v5.4 also includes an Overall Vibration Index report for quickly identifying plant assets where vibration levels exceed threshold values.

‘Through the integration of wireless vibration diagnostics and machinery protection systems, operators and maintenance personnel can more effectively identify and resolve issues while maintaining production and preserving equipment health,’ said Craig Llewellyn, president of Emerson’s Asset Optimization business.

ShareThis

GE Proficy software used in Cliffstar juice factories

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:00:55 +0000

Cliffstar has implemented GE Intelligent Platforms’ Proficy software to increase the efficiency of production lines in its juice factories.

Cliffstar is an independent grape, cranberry and prune-juice processor, and has more than 145 blends of juices.

A year and a half ago, each Cliffstar plant had its own performance metrics and varied tools for tracking production activities.

In a pilot programme, the company installed Proficy on one line in one plant in Dunkirk, New York, as the first step in bringing a common approach to performance measurement and continuous improvement.

Cliffstar was introduced to GE Intelligent Platforms by GE Capital and undertook a Smartstart implementation, in which users can realise real results from Proficy software solutions in a short amount of time.

‘The pilot was successful,’ said Robert Kapilevich, industrial engineering manager for Cliffstar.

‘We were able to relieve some of the performance issues we were experiencing, so we are rolling out an additional five lines in Dunkirk.

‘All six lines will be connected within 30 days.

‘In the next six months we will roll out to all Cliffstar plants,’ he added.

The company has also incorporated GE’s data collection and web-based visualisation systems for monitoring and analysing performance information into the solution.

The company, with five major bottling plants in the US (California, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) began this process to increase yield and improve quality, gain visibility into real-time management operations, reduce line stoppages and solve flexibility issues as they add new equipment and build new lines.

It also desired a system that required minimal support and development.

ShareThis

Heliovolt choose GE Proficy Software to control its solar PV module

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:36:33 +0000

GE Intelligent Platforms has announced that Heliovolt has implemented the Proficy Software suite in its thin-film solar PV module manufacturing plant.

The company, based in Austin, Texas, chose GE’s software to increase plant yield and throughput, while meeting strict control and traceability requirements.

The software system employed at Heliovolt is made up of five core elements of the Proficy suite, providing the company with robust redundancy, enhanced data security, reliable information and increased control of every aspect of operations.

ShareThis

ABB ACS355

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:32:01 +0000

ABB has renamed the ACS350 general machinery drive the ACS355 and has incorporated additional features to maximise its effectiveness for machinery applications.

The ACS355 is designed to meet the production and performance needs of system integrators, OEMs and panel builders, as well as the requirements of end users in a range of applications, including food and beverage, material handling, lifting, textiles, packing, printing, rubber and plastics, and woodworking.

Said to have with the highest power density in its class, the compact drive is designed to meet the needs of high-volume machine building and manufacturing.

The drive offers four degrees of environmental protection, starting with the standard IP20 panel-mounted chassis.

For applications requiring the drive to be mounted to the wall, ABB offers a Nema 1/UL type 1 kit that can be field installed in minutes.

For more demanding environmental conditions, or for wash-down applications, the IP66/UL Type 4x enclosure, or IP69K protection with factory-recommended cable glands, provides a solution.

The drive supports control of standard AC induction motors and permanent magnet motors, providing flexibility for machine building and reducing the need for drive variants and spare parts.

The drive’s compact and uniform dimensions facilitate multiple drive solutions and cabinet installations, saving installation space at restricted spaces.

All frame sizes share the same depth and height.

Up to eight sequences of operations can be created to the drive, reducing the need for external logic components.

The Safe Torque Off (STO) safety function keeps the drive energised when the motor has been stopped and ensures that there is no torque on the machine.

Among other benefits, it provides safe machine maintenance and reduces the need for external safety components.

The STO function enables machine builders to fulfill the requirements of Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, using the drive’s safety function as part of the machine’s safety system.

The feature is certified by TUV in accordance with IEC 61508 SIL3 and ISO13849-1 PL e standards.

The drive offers a variety of software and hardware features for a range of applications, including torque memory and mechanical brake control for lifting applications.

The features also include pulse counting that can be used to control small-scale production lines.

The drive supports plug-in type fieldbus adapters, enabling communication with the most common protocols in the automation industry.

The drive is available from 0.5 to 30hp at 0.37 to 22kW.

ShareThis

Siemens Drive

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:58:45 +0000

The Siemens Industry Drive Technologies Division has launched a Flender vertical mill drive that can be used to crush raw material and cement in the building-materials or coal industries.

The EMPP (electrical motor and two planetary gears) vertical mill drive prevents load surges arising from short-term power interruptions and optimises performance between drive and mill, enabling power ranges to be expanded to 15MW.

Reliability is also enhanced through a reduction in the number of components susceptible to faults.

The EMPP vertical mill drive features a newly developed motor in which the gear housing is built in under the planetary gear.

The power transmission features a permanent magnet synchronous motor with an efficient cooling system and the drive is controlled by a frequency converter.

This ensures maximum running smoothness combined with optimum grinding results for varying operating conditions, according to the company.

Vertical mills are commonly used to crush raw material and cement in the building materials or coal industries and trends are towards larger production facilities.

The new units are available in power ratings from 500kW to 15MW and, above a certain size, units can be delivered in two parts and assembled on site.

The footprint of the new drive means that no laborious retrofitting is necessary.

This new mill drive meets the requirements of the Atex Directive, which is of particular importance for coal mills with flammable coal dust.

ShareThis

Schneider supply automation and control equipment to DB

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:53:23 +0000

Schneider Electric is to supply automation and control equipment to DB Controls, which has been commissioned to supply automation, motor control and a Scada system for a new waste recycling plant.

DB Controls chose Schneider Electric’s equipment to enable it to offer a cost-effective Form 2 type-tested control panel.

The waste facility has been designed and installed by OKLM Recycling Technology for waste management company Cawleys.

The plant, situated in Luton, is a sorting facility for commercial and industrial waste and features the automated separation of paper from this type of waste.

Operating as a subcontractor to OKLM, DB Controls was responsible for system integration.

For the control systems, the Schneider Electric M340 PLC platform was chosen; this compact solution offers plug-and-play options with other Schneider Electric devices.

The PLC features twin Ethernet ports programmed with Unity Pro IEC 61131-3-compliant software.

Although small in size, this PLC controls 80 Tesys Model U direct online integrated motor starters, 18 ATV71 variable-speed drives and four racks of Advantys fieldbus input/output (I/O) with Telefast 2 direct termination units.

The Tesys U DOL starters can be installed in a compact space resulting in a reduced footprint and work in conjunction with VSDs and remote I/O that are all networked using Modbus over TCP.

This package of equipment has been built into a Prisma Plus motor control centre (MCC), a BSEN 61439-2-compliant offer based on a Prisma Plus distribution switchboard and designed to be fully integrated with Schneider Electric distribution, control and automation products.

The recycling plant is designed using a complex arrangement of conveyors to transport waste from stage to stage, recovering different types of recyclable material at each phase.

The MCC’s inverter drives ensure that the motors powering the conveyor system run at the correct speed, even though the loading may be continuously changing.

The separation process uses a range of technologies, including infrared, magnetic and sorting, by blowers in a large rotating drum.

The plant runs continuously and requires constant monitoring to ensure the safety of workers and the protection of the machinery should abnormal items get onto the conveyor system or if blockages occur.

Ensuring safe and reliable plant operation is the primary function of the Scada system.

For DB Controls, there were cost and efficiency advantages in using Schneider Electric components.

David Trueman, sales director of DB Controls, said: ‘Being able to purchase all of the equipment from one source meant that the integration of the various components was very straightforward, particularly with the model used by Schneider Electric for network production.

‘By building the MCC in this way, we were able to offer a fully verified solution.

‘One of the key benefits of working with them [Schneider Electric] has been the ability to use Ethernet networks in control applications,’ he added.

In operation, the M340 and the ATV71 both have an active webpage, accessed through the system software, to open up windows on the Scada display to show device parameters and status.

The system is fully accessible remotely at DB Controls’ engineering office.

Now fully operational at Cawleys’ Luton plant, the control system has also been replicated at two further waste recycling facilities.

ShareThis

Why Pizza Hut Can Save energy costs ?

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 06:13:11 +0000

An 85 per cent reduction in electricity costs is being achieved at Pizza Hut’s Watford Dome branch following the installation of a 1.5kW and a 3kW ABB drive on the air-extraction cooker-hood system.

The system, installed by Food Industry Technical (FIT), controls air supply and extraction by monitoring carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and temperature in the cooker hood.

After the introduction of FIT’s system, controlled by ABB component drives, the fans now use, on average, less than 10kWh a day.

This has been achieved by matching the speed of the fans to the demands of the application and switching them off when they are not needed.

By using a 1.5kW ABB component drive, FIT could vary the speed of the extractor-fan motor by monitoring CO2 and temperature, and feeding the values back to the drive.

Similarly, a 3kW ABB component drive was fitted to the supply fan.

The system automatically reacts to CO2 levels and the temperature sensors ramp up the drives to 100 per cent if the temperature in the kitchen exceeds 34C or CO2 exceeds 2,500ppm.

ShareThis