Buyers Guide

Annual Buyers’ Guide 2018 | Plant &Works Engineering | ABB Review 87 Baxters Food Group says it is using an ABB variable speed drive (VSD) to help ensure consistent mixing of its range of sauces, dressing and marinades. The drive is used to adjust the mixer motor’s speed based on requirements for a particular product. Installed on a 750 kg capacity holding vessel, the VSD is used to mix sauces and other products at an elevated temperature – a process known as hot fill. This process pasteurises the product, preventing spoilage and prolonging shelf life. The tank, which had not been used for several years, featured a steam-heated jacket that made it suitable for the hot fill process, but had no controls or electrical supply. Baxters needed a power and control solution that would turn the vessel into a fully usable asset and contacted ABB authorised value provider, Gibbons Engineering Group, for advice. Gibbons designed, built and installed a stainless steel-enclosed control panel, which incorporates a 4 kW ABB micro drive to control the speed of the holding vessel’s agitator via a door mounted potentiometer. The VSD enables the speed of the mixer to be adjusted from 30 to 80 rpm, ensuring the hot fill sauces are agitated at a consistently controlled speed to give the correct end product quality. t| 01925 741517 e| layla.hewitt@gb.abb.com Adding a drive to the mix ABB says its new service gives users of medium- and high- power variable speed drives complimentary access to a host of services throughout the warranty period. Drive users now receive access to on-site repair, rapid exchange of faulty parts with access to original spares, telephone support during office hours and technical query escalation. Customers only need to register the drive at the point of commissioning to activate the service. The registration can be handled by ABB directly or through one of its authorised value providers. Alternatively, customers can download a registration app and enrol the drive themselves. The company says both telephone and ABB Ability cloud-based remote support offer advice, guidance and issue resolution and this benefits those customers who are trying to get a drive up and running or seeking reassurance that the drive operates as intended. Reduced downtime and plant interruption is further enhanced by escalation to global experts who handle advanced user queries. For medium voltage drives, rare instances of drive failure or condition monitoring can benefit from ABB Ability remote support from specialist teams. The service is available for all ABB industrial drives including: ACS880, ACS1000, ACS2000, ACS5000, ACS6000, ACS6080, ACS580MV, Megadrive-LCI and DCS880. w| www.abb.com Complimentary service protects drive investment ABB has announced it doubled the size of its UK Engineering Centre to tackle demand for servicing variable speed drives (VSDs), developing specialist test rigs (STRs) and customer training. The company says floorspace at the site in Coalville, Leicestershire, is increased from 830 m2 to 1789 m2 and the site houses the latest ABB-certified workshop – one of 17 throughout the world - offering repairs and upgrades to low voltage AC and DC drives and medium voltage AC drives. The facility upgrades third party medium voltage drives, as well as those of ABB.“Many operators across multiple industries are finding that their variable speed drives are no longer supported by the original vendor. ABB can integrate new variable speed drives and control platforms to these systems, ensuring operators can continue to benefit from their substantial investment in equipment,”says Stuart Melling, business unit manager, ABB Drives UK. The new facility houses ABB’s STR business, for which a new class of test rig for electric vehicles, incorporating battery simulators and electric chargers, is being developed. The location boasts the largest VSD training school in the UK, offering customers access to certified courses covering low-, medium- and high-power drives. Coalville sees the introduction of the ABB Ability Remote Support Centre. This enables global customers to maximise uptime and optimise processes by having round-the-clock access to drive and automation experts who use cloud- based technologies for preventive and predictive maintenance. t| 07000 DRIVES (07000 374837) e| energy@gb.abb.com w| www.new.abb.com/uk/campaigns/energy-productivity UK Engineering Centre doubles in size to meet rising demand