November/December 2018

50 55 42 34 28 24 53 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 January issue of Drives & Controls will contain our annual supplement on variable-speed drives, and a look at what’s been happening in the world of gears and gearboxes. UPDATE 13 Comment 49 ABB Back to Basics 50 Gambica column 53 Design Data 55 Multimedia 56 New Products 61 Products & Services 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 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 Vol 34 No 10 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 58 3 News A round-up of the latest business and industry developments from around the world. 15 Technology Cutting-edge innovations in motion, power transmission, controls and related technologies. 24 Automation Manufacturers face many challenges as they towards agile, flexible production environments. We examine some of the key issues and how they are being resolved. Plus a look at how Skoda is using autonomous vehicles to transport parts around one of its plants. 27 Safety The Machinery Directive does not currently address the needs of Industry 4.0. An expert considers how it might need to change. Plus a look at new edition of a BSI machinery safety standard, and a report on a survey looking at how manufacturers are using safety to boost profitability. 34 Controlgear and Enclosures How a British engineering company came to the aid of a Saudi utility after a critical synchronous motor was declared obsolete by its manufacturer, who refused to support it. Also, we offer advice on implementing IT systems securely in factories. 40 Controllers and Software We explore the world of virtual commissioning, consider the implications of edge computing, and report on the reasons why PLCopen has issued a new version of its safety standard, more than a decade after the first edition. 17 4 47