January 2020

45 www.drivesncontrols.com January 2020 NEW PRODUCTS n n NEW PRODUCTS DESIGN DATA n The European Copper Institute has produced a booklet, aimed at policy makers and legislators, that shows how efficient electric motor systems can help to reduce carbon emissions. The 28-page Decarb Europe Primer on Electric Motor Systems has been produced with the help of organisations across Europe, including the UK’s Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT). The booklet shows that Europe could reduce its energy consumption by 23TWh per year by implementing efficiency measures using currently available technologies. For instance, half of all motor systems could save energy if fitted with variable-speed drives. The booklet includes facts on motor systems, examples of applications, and policy proposals. www.slideshare.net/sustenergy/electric-motor-systems-decarbeurope Online portal offers troubleshooting advice for motors and drives Fluke has produced a series of online and downloadable resources to help troubleshoot and maintain motors and drives. They include ten single-page guides on tools – such as thermal imagers, motor drive and power quality analysers, and vibration testers, and shaft alignment tools – that can be used to monitor and maintain motors and drives. There are also four real-life applications that describe problems faced by industrial users and how they were solved. In addition, there are seven checklists and guides that provide information on best practice approach to preventive maintenance. Finally, there are two videos covering the use of power quality and motor analysers. www.fluke.com/en-gb/learn/best-practices/motors-and-drives White Paper discusses the development of smart manufacturing strategies MPA (Michael Price Associates) has produced a White Paper that argues the importance of establishing a clear strategy for smart manufacturing, and explains how to finance such a strategy. The paper provides the background to smart manufacturing and discusses the benefits and challenges of developing long-term strategies. It looks at a range of finance options available to help businesses move towards smart manufacturing, and examines incentive schemes available to help fund smart factory plans, increase operational efficiencies, shorten product development cycles and accelerate innovation. https://mpa.co.uk/whitepaper-industry-4-0-and-smart-manufacturing eBook examines trends in industrial robotics Mouser Electronics and TE Connectivity have produced an eBook that highlights new functions and applications in industrial robotics. Called Solutions for Robots and Robot Control, it includes articles on the latest robotics technologies. There is a special emphasis on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), highlighting the many ways in which robots are transforming factories and warehouses. The book explores some of the key technologies needed for industrial automation and IIoT, including high-performance communications and digital twins. www.mouser.com/news/teroboticssebook/mobile/index Booklet argues environmental case for motor systems MULTIMEDIA ABB has launched aWeb portal that provides information on its digital offerings across a range of industries. The ABB Ability site is organised by industry segment, making it easy for visitors to browse information relevant to their needs. Within each segment, they can find use cases, catalogues and information on ABB’s digital partners. The site offers insights into topics such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the energy revolution and the fourth industrial revolution. Visitors can view videos, including one that explains how integrating digital systems and smart sensors can improve quality in food and beverage applications. The site also provides a link into the ABB Ability Marketplace, the company’s online portal for selling digital systems. https://ability.abb.com App offers digital support for motor and drive maintenance Siemens has announced an app that makes maintenance of its Sinamics low-voltage drive systems and/or Simotics motors more efficient. The Mindsphere Predictive Service Assistance app provides an overview of assets and service triggers – for example, defined KPIs and operating hours based on predictive analytics. It also offers information on spare parts, and recommended and pending service work. The app includes an assistant for planning, implementing and documentingmaintenance activities and simplifying spare parts ordering. The app is part of Siemens’Predictive Services for Drive Systems service package which carries out digitalisation checks and connects to Siemens’Mindsphere cloud platform. http://b.link/sios87 Intelligent tool accelerates the search for grippers Schunk is offering an online design and selection tool that helps users choose the right gripper for an application. The tool simplifies and accelerates the engineering of handling systems. Users simply enter a few details about the gripper type, workpiece and application, and the system suggests a“hit list”of items from Schunk’s range of 2,550 gripping components – claimed to be the world's largest. The site also offers technical information, drawings and images. The tool speeds up designs, avoids costly oversizing, and allows targeted pre-selection of components. The hit list can be saved, designs can be archived, and the data can be retrieved for follow-up projects. www.schunk.com/digitale-services Safety configurator calculates voltage drops Schmersal has launched a Web-based tool that simplifies the selection of safety systems. The Schmersal System Configurator offers an overview of the most efficient solution for an application. Users can drag-and-drop devices such as solenoid interlocks, safety sensors and control panels to create a virtual structure. The configurator calculates the supply voltage to each device depending on wire lengths and cross-sections. If the voltage falls below 20.4V, the display switches from green to yellow and, if lower than 19.5V, to red. The configurator will suggest alternatives such as a passive field boxes to reduce voltage drops. www.schmersal.com Portal offers an insight into digitalisation