July/August 2018

50 61 43 42 32 26 46 CONTENTS Drives&Controls is a controlled circulation publication. If you live in the UK and want to subscribe phone 0333 577 0801 or fax 0845 604 2327. Alternatively for both UK and overseas subscriptions please subscribe online at www.drivesncontrols.com. If you have any enquiries regarding your subscription, please use these numbers. The content of this magazine, website and newsletters do not necessarily express the views of the Editor or publishers.The publishers accept no legal responsibility for loss arising from information in this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced or stored in a retrieval systemwithout the written consent of the publishers. Paid subscriptions UK: £95 per annum Europe: £125 per annum Rest of World: £160 per annum Printing: Warners Midlands PLC., PE10 9PH ISSN 0950 5490 Copyright: DFA Media Ltd 2018 NEXT ISSUE The September issue of Drives & Controls will contain a special section on energy efficiency, as well as features on precision engineering and motion control, and on building services. UPDATE 13 Comment 56 Gambica column 59 ABB Back to Basics 61 Multimedia 62 Design Data 64 New Products 235 Products & Services 239 Appointments IN DEPTH Follow us onTwitter @DrivesnControls Drives MagazineWeb site www.drivesncontrols.com Drives ShowWeb site www.drives-expo.com Join us on Facebook Drives & Controls Drives & Controls REGULARS DRIVES & CONTROLS JULY/AUGUST 2018 Vol 34 No 7 Editor Tony Sacks t/f: 01732 465367 e: tony@drives.co.uk Production Manager Sarah Blake t: 01233 770781 e: sarah.blake@dfamedia.co.uk Customer Liaison Ewa Hodden t: 01732 370340 e: cewa.hodden@dfamedia.co.uk Financial Clare Jackson t: 01732 370340 e: clare.jackson@dfamedia.co.uk ADVERTISING Director of Sales Damien Oxlee t: 01732 370342 f: 01732 360034 m: 07951 103754 e: damien.oxlee@dfamedia.co.uk Sales Manager AndyWylie t: 01732 370341 f: 01732 360034 m: 07939 607855 e: andy.wylie@dfamedia.co.uk DFA Direct Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370340 f: 01732 360034 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Eastern US Karen C Smith-Kernc e: karenkcs@aol.com t: +1 717 397 7100 f: +1 717 397 7800 Western US & Canada Alan A Kernc e: alankcs@aol.com t: +1 717 397 7100 f: +1 717 397 7800 Italy Oliver & Diego Casiraghi e: info@casiraghi.info t: +031 261 407 f: +031 261 380 Commercial Director Ryan Fuller t: 01732 370344 e: ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk Publisher Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370346 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Reader/Circulation Enquiries Perception-MPS Ltd t: 01825 701520 e: dfamedia@dmags.co.uk HEAD OFFICE DFA Media Ltd 192 High Street, Tonbridge KentTN9 1BE t: 01732 370340 f: 01732 360034 e: info@dfamedia.co.uk www.drivesncontrols.com 64 3 News A round-up of the latest business and industry developments from around the world. 14 Technology Cutting-edge innovations in motion, power transmission, controls and related technologies. 26 PLCs vs IPCs For many years, industrial PCs have been threatening to replace traditional PLCs. Despite this, sales of PLCs are continuing to grow. A pair of experts argue the case for each of these vital control technologies. 31 Renewable Energy A special six-page section examining some of the ways that automation and motion engineering technologies are helping to capture energy from renewable sources such as the sun, rivers, wind and biomass 38 Mergers and Acquisitions Recent months have seen a flurry of acquisitions and mergers involving companies in the automation and motion engineering sectors. A financial expert examines some of the factors fuelling this activity and driving up the prices being paid for companies. 42 Machine Building A German motion controls company has made extensive use of its own technologies in a robotic machine that it is using to produce a new type of drive that bridges the gap between synchronous and asynchronous motors. 43 Mine Removal A British company has developed a machine that automatically clears minefields of difficult-to-detect plastic landmines. The machine, which incorporates VSDs, will make mine removal faster and less dangerous. 45 Transportation Industrial automation and motion technologies are increasingly being applied in all forms of transportation, on roads, in the air and on the water. We report on some recent developments. 73 ANNUAL BUYER’S GUIDE This issue contains the 2018/2019 edition of the industry “bible” for power transmission, automation and motion engineers, telling you who sells what and how to get in touch with them. 14 3