November/December 2020

n NEWS November/December 2020 www.drivesncontrols.com 10 CONTROLTECHNIQUES HAS launched a new identity aimed at clearing“confusion”about the company. CT, which is owned by the Japanese group, Nidec, has also launched several new products including: its largest- ever drive; a dedicated pump drive; a series of I/O modules that allows drives to manage applications without needing a PLC or Scada system; and a new version of CT’s Motion Made Easy servo control suite. Explaining the reasons for the new identity – which includes the adoption of the slogan “drives obsessed”– Pam Chahal, Control Techniques’global marketing director, says:“It has been evident for a while that there was some confusion in the marketplace over who Control Techniques is, and where it stands in today’s competitive landscape. In recent years, the business has changed ownership, which brought its own challenges, but we are now completely aligned and looking to the future. “With the launch of our new identity, we took things back to square one and tried to answer the fundamental questions facing any organisation,”she adds.“Control Techniques has been active for nearly 50 years, so there was a lot of heritage we had built up. By focusing on our strengths, we have developed a bold new vision for the future of our organisation, confirming our position as a challenger to the establishment.” “Control Techniques has, for too long, been the best-kept secret in the drives world. That must stop,”adds CT president, Tony Pickering. “We were the original drives brand, with a long history of industry-firsts. We have reason to shout, and reason to be confident. This exciting new identity will help us get people’s attention and put us back where we feel we belong.” As well as its largest-ever drive (see below) and dedicated pump drive (see page 23), Control Techniques’new products include: n Two new series of I/Omodules that allow applications“of moderate complexity”to be managed by the drive without needing a separate PLC. The modules have direct high-speed access to all drive parameters and can control I/Os including LEDs, pushbuttons, temperature controls and machine status indicators. In the first option, add-on RTMoE or Modbus TCP modules connect via the on- board Ethernet port of CT’s M7XX drives, or via the on-board Ethernet port of its MC210 machine control modules. In the second option, add-on EtherCat remote I/O modules connect via the on-board EtherCat port of MCe or MCz controllers, and can also connect via any EtherCat port on a PLC or controller. n The next generation of CT’s Motion Made Easy servo control suite , consisting of the new PTi210 module and accompanying software, and designed for use with its Unidrive M and Digitax HD servodrives. Integrating PTi210 allows users to access the PowerTools Studio software for motion control. The PTi210 module offers five high-speed digital I/O points which expand on the drive’s onboard I/O, while PowerTools Studio provides tools for programming Digitax HD or Unidrive M drives using Modbus RU serial ports or on- board Ethernet. https://acim.nidec.com/drives/control- techniques Control Techniques ‘drives obsessed’ rebrand aims to end confusion Control Techniques' new products include the RTMoE remote IO module which can avoid the need for an external PLC CONTROLTECHNIQUES has launched is biggest-ever drive – a 500kW frame 12 design that it claims is the lightest high- powered drive of its kind, and can be replaced by a single engineer in less than 30 minutes. The drive can be fitted with CT’s Unidrive M70X or Powerdrive F300 control modules and can be installed in a standard cubicle which accommodates both module and accessories. Alternatively, the frame is available pre-assembled in an industry- standard cabinet, as part of CT’s DFS Series. Previously, the largest drive in Control Techniques’48-year history was a frame 11 design in ratings up to 250kW. Weighing 130kg, the new drive is up to 60kg lighter than its rivals and, because it is smaller than them, can replace existing drives. During servicing, factory-tested sub-assemblies can be exchanged on site without needing to return the complete drive to base. The drive supports all of the main industrial communications protocols as standard, or via user-fitted optionmodules that provide direct, high-speed access to all of the drive’s parameters. For high-performance networks such as EtherCat and CANopen, the drive control loops are synchronised with the communication system to eliminate delays and enhance performance. The frame 12 drive uses microprocessors and IGBTs to reduce EMC/RFI emissions, and to allow the use of longer motor leads. If external faults are detected, the IGBTs can shut down rapidly. A pair of rectifiers allow a 12-pulse supply connection that reduces harmonic currents. According to CT president, Tony Pickering, the frame size 12 drives“mark a bold new direction for Control Techniques, allowing us to provide a high- quality, high-power system into a newworld of applications and industries. “Frame size 12 enables on-site repairs to be carried out, if necessary, and replacement emergency breakdown units can be available in as little as 24 hours,”he adds.“Put simply, this is both our largest-ever drive and one of our simplest to commission. People across the world know and respect us for our smaller drives, so we’re naturally excited to introduce our large drive.” CT’s biggest-ever drive is ‘the lightest on the market’