January 2020

50 45 42 40 38 34 CONTENTS n 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 2020 NEXT ISSUE The February issue of Drives & Controls will contain a report from the SPS show in Germany, a look at what’s happening in robotics and automated manufacturing, a report on developments in sensors and encoders, and news from the world of hazardous areas. UPDATE 15 Comment 17 ABB Back to Basics 44 Gambica Column 45 Design Data Multimedia 46 New Products 49 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 5 News A round-up of the latest business and industry developments from around the world. 18 Technology Cutting-edge innovations in motion, power transmission, controls and related technologies. 31 Variable-Speed Drives Our special feature on VSDs reflects the variety of applications that drives are helping to control and make more efficient in areas as diverse has hospital water supplies, quarrying, paper cup production and massive pipe-laying vessels. We also take a closer look at regeneration. 37 Gears and Gearboxes How a UK brick-maker was returned rapidly to full operation after a gearbox failed on a critical crushing machine, and how custom gearboxes are helping to extend the lives of log washing machines that are used in the quarrying of aggregates. 40 Paper A French plant that produces parchment paper has recently been expanded to keep up with demand. Its 100m-long paper-making machines contain 180 rollers that must rotate at the same speed to avoid tearing the paper, placing heavy demands on the motors that drive them. 42 Southern Manufacturing A look forward to the three-day Southern Manufacturing & Electronics show which takes place in Farnborough next month and is expected to attract around 9,000 visitors, breaking a record set last year. 18 6 47 44 DRIVES & CONTROLS JANUARY 2020 Vol 36 No 1 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 Operations Manager Ewa Hodden t: 01732 370340 e: ewa.hodden@dfamedia.co.uk Project Liaison Manager Emma Floyd t: 01732 370340 f: 01732 360034 e: emma.floyd@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: cs@percption-sas.com HEAD OFFICE DFA Media Ltd 192 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BE t: 01732 370340 f: 01732 360034 e: info@dfamedia.co.uk www.drivesncontrols.com 30