Clickable busbar system halves assembly times, plus users can create custom apps on drives
Drives & Controls
The UK's leading magazine for automation, motion engineering and power transmission
Despite the lacklustre German economy, last week’s SPS automation megashow in Nuremberg still managed to attract more than 51,000 visitors – well up on last year’s total of 44,000. But the toll the downturn is taking on the sector was obvious with announcements by Siemens that it is cutting around 5,000 jobs from its “challenging” industrial automation activities and, perhaps more strikingly, Beckhoff Automation revealing that it expects its revenues to plummet by about 30% this year. Until now, Beckhoff’s growth has been remarkable, achieving double-digit expansion in many years, including 2023 when it grew by 16% to hit revenues of €1.75bn. At SPS, Frederike Beckhoff, who is in charge of corporate development (and is the daughter of the founder, Hans), revealed that she expects revenues to drop to around €1.26bn this year, while Beckhoff’s headcount has fallen from 6,000 to 5,700. But she is optimistic that things will start to turn around in early 2025, as customers who have been relying on their existing stocks will need to start replenishing them.
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The German enclosures manufacturer Rittal has unveiled a new platform for power distribution systems in enclosures consisting of boards and components that click together, simplifying the previously laborious process of assembling such systems. It claims that the RiLineX system will cut assembly times by up to 50% and engineering times by up to 30% compared to conventional busbar systems.
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ABB has unveiled an open software platform that is integrated into its drives’ operating systems, allowing users to create, validate and implement customised control and analysis applications in programming environments such as Matlab/Simulink or C++. Called the ABB Crealizer, the platform interacts in real time and can access high-resolution real-time data for analytics and other applications.
The new inductive Leuze IS 200 series sensors offer up to three times the operating range of standard inductive sensors. The IS 200 range have switching distances of up to an impressive 40 mm. This means that one model can be used for multiple applications with different operating range requirements. This standardisation reduces inventory cost and allows for a cost-efficient machine design. The devices in the IS 200 series have a wide temperature range from -25 to +70°C, IP67 Protection Class and together with high durability and robust design make them well-suited for installation in tough environments.
At the SPS exhibition in Germany, Beckhoff has unveiled a new generation of its TwinCat PLC technology that speeds up both engineering and runtime operations, and can execute control code up to 1.5 times faster than before. Beckhoff describes the new TwinCat PLC++ controllers as “a real leap in automation technology performance”, speeding up everything from control development and commissioning, to machine lifecycles.
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The Brazilian motor-maker WEG has launched an axial-flux motor that will allow OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and systems integrators to implement innovative applications with small footprints. Available in frame sizes 250–400 (10-125hp), the modular Nema-standard W80 AXgen motor, lets manufacturers downsize systems, cut logistical costs and lower carbon footprints.
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Mclennan’s SM series miniature geared stepper motors and the companion MM003 single-axis stepper drive from Micro Motors s.r.l. provide a simple, versatile and affordable solution for basic position- and/or speed-based motion control. A choice of four geared steppers with a wide choice of reduction ratios provide torques up to 1500 Nm at 2 rpm and the drive features six DIP-switch selectable control modes including step and direction and settings that utilise voltage or current input for proportional or fixed speed control.
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At the SPS exhibition in Germany, UK-based Trio Motion Technology has unveiled a new class of machine controller that combines motion, robotics and logic. Called the Motion-PLC, it integrates advanced motion control performance with the simplicity of a PLC to cut the cost and complexity of machine designs.
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At the SPS show in Germany, the automation supplier Lenze has unveiled an integrated motor-drive system which, it claims, achieves energy efficiency to IE5 and IE7 levels, and can cut motor losses by up to 60%. The system, which delivers 300% overload torque, combines Lenze’s m550/m650 permanent magnet synchronous motors, g500 gearboxes and i550 and i650 variable-speed drives. It is said to be as easy to use as an asynchronous motor.
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At the SPS exhibition in Germany, B&R Industrial Automation has launched a new, open approach to programming safety functions which, it claims, overcomes previous barriers. The Safety+ platform allows developers to use the latest software engineering tools and methods for safety applications. An innovative data structure with digital fingerprints makes the source code freely accessible, while also meeting the special requirements of functional safety.
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At the SPS automation exhibition in Germany, Schneider Electric has unveiled a slew of new technologies including an industrial PC motion controller that integrates precision motion control, safety and edge computing in one device. This integrated design allows control, data processing, and communications to be combined in any application where real-time control, low latency, and immediate decision-making are needed. It offers modularity in build time, runtime and hardware.
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