July/August 2020

50 45 42 36 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 September issue of Drives & Controls will contain a special section on energy efficiency, as well as a feature covering developments in the food and beverage industry, and a look at what’s been happening in the world of service and repairs. UPDATE 15 Comment 17 ABB Back to Basics 45 Gambica column 46 Design Data and Multimedia 47 New Products 185 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 18 5 48 46 DRIVES & CONTROLS JULY/AUGUST 2020 Vol 36 No 7 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 Italy Oliver & Diego Casiraghi e: info@casiraghi.info t: +39 031 261407 f: +39 031 261380 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 30 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. 30 Talking Industry Last month we launched the first in a series of online panel discussions under the banner Talking Industry, that bring together leading experts from the worlds of automation and manufacturing. Here we pick out some highlights from the lively discussion during the inaugural Webinar. 32 Transportation Industrial automation and motion technologies are increasingly being applied in all forms of transportation – on roads, on rails, in the air and on the water. We report on some recent developments including battery-powered trains, fuel-cell powered planes, and electrically assisted sailing boats on the Norfolk Broads. 40 Renewable Energy We examine some of the ways that automation and motion engineering technologies are helping to capture energy from renewable sources such as the sun and the wind, including a folding photovoltaic roof that opens up new applications for solar power, and a vertical-axis wind turbine that is using a standard AC drive to connect to the grid. 44 Brakes and Clutches Hybrid mechanical transmission systems that provide brake and clutch functions offer many potential attractions. An expert explains the various technologies and combinations available, and looks at a practical example of a hybrid transmission application. 51 ANNUAL BUYER’S GUIDE This issue contains the 2020/2021 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. 44