May 2020

50 45 42 33 26 22 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 June issue of Drives & Controls will contain a look at what’s happening in the world of communications, networking and security, and a report on developments in brakes, clutches and couplings. UPDATE 12 Comment 13 ABB Back to Basics 45 Gambica Column 46 Design Data and Multimedia 47 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. 15 Technology Cutting-edge innovations in motion, power transmission, controls and related technologies. 22 Coronavirus Andy Pye reports on the remarkable efforts being undertaken by manufacturing companies, engineers and research scientists in the race to defeat Covid-19, and why manufacturing may never be the same again. 25 Motors In a special supplement, we look at the progress being made to make motors “smart”, examine a scheme for buying electric motors in a similar way to the PCPs we use to lease cars, and report on how an Australian company is using motors originally developed as wheelhub drives for electric vehicles, to make cranes safer. 33 Pharmaceutical and Medical Automatic and robotics technologies are increasingly being used in pharmaceutical, scientific and medical equipment manufacturing. We report on examples including peristaltic pumps and asthma inhalers, as well as looking how digital twins are helping to develop respirator masks, and how factory acceptance tests are being performed virtually. 40 Linear Motion How electrically-powered linear actuators are replacing fluid power in powder-press machines, as well as helping to automate previously manually- operated breathing resuscitators. Plus we examine the technology behind rodless actuators and offer advice on how to choose and specify them. 15 5 47 46 DRIVES & CONTROLS MAY 2020 Vol 36 No 5 Editor Tony Sacks t: 01732 465367 e: tony@drives.co.uk Consultant Editor Andy Pye t: 07808 137312 e: andy.pye@dfamedia.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@perception-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 44