Drives & Controls May 2022

May 2022 www.drivesncontrols.com 10 n NEWS AT THE RECENT Drives & Controls Show in Birmingham, UK, Nidec Control Techniques unveiled a microdrive that it believes is the first in the world to provide programming, commissioning, diagnostics and other functions using a built-in NFC (near-field communications) capability. The Commander S drive, which has taken three years to develop, comes in three frame sizes covering a power range of 0.18–4kW (0.25– 5hp), in 100V and 200V single-phase versions, and 200V and 400V three-phase versions. The built-in NFC works with an app called Marshal running on a smartphone or tablet that can be used to commission the drive in just 60 seconds, even when is still in its box with no power applied. The app can also be used: n to clone parameters from one drive to another; n to provide real-time diagnostics even when the drive is powered off; n to provide step-by-step instructions will to help users to fix problems; and n to share PDF files of wiring diagrams and drive configurations via email, WhatsApp or other messaging apps. The Marshal app, which is available for Android or iOS, provides simple set-up routines tailored to specific applications. A FastStart menu provides assisted commissioning, with only four settings to get a motor running. Control Techniques’ president, Tony Pickering predicts that NFC will be a game-changer for the drives industry. “NFC is in all our lives, and we use it to make payments at a shop, for example,” he points out. “We knew this was the technology to go for.” Pickering believes that NFC will be “disruptive for the industry and change the customer experience, from installation to programming.” The app could replace the drive’s built-in display and keypad and CT may offer lower-cost versions of the Commander S without these functions. The company also plans to add NFC functions to other drives in its portfolio. In the future, Pickering predicts, “keypads will only be used by people who do not understand how good this is”. The small-footprint Commander S drives offer click-on/off DIN-rail mounting, and can be mounted side-by-side in cabinets, saving costs and space. Laser-printed terminal designations simplify identification, while offset angled terminals make screw access and cable entry easy. Conformal coating protects the drive against moisture and corrosion. Control Techniques is offering a five-year warranty on the Commander S, as it does with all of its general-purpose drives. The drives are optimised for simple applications. Built-in functions include intelligent fan control, Modbus RTU, and a C1 EMC filter. They also meet the energy efficiency requirements of the EU Ecodesign regulation. Pickering reveals that Control Techniques has already received an advance order for 1,000 of the new drives from a customer in the US. • CT has been awarded an iF Design Award for the Commander S drive and Marshal app in the scheme’s industry/tools product category. The awards, started in 1954, this year attracted almost 11,000 entries from 57 countries. First NFC-enabled microdrive can be programmed inside its box Hannover Messe 30 May –2 June, 2022 Hannover, Germany As the industrial mega-show returns as a face-to-face physical event in 2022, the key topics will be digitalisation and sustainability. Under the overarching theme of industrial transformation, leading global companies will show how to shift successfully to digitalised, resource-efficient and climate-neutral production. The partner country for 2022 is Portugal. https://www.hannovermesse.de/en Hillhead 2022 21-23 June, 2022 Buxton, Derbyshire The organisers of the quarrying, construction and recycling event, which takes place in a quarry, say that this year’s showwill have more than 600 exhibitors the first time. As well as exhibition marquees, the event includes live demonstrations of working equipment. www.hillhead.com Automatica 2022 21-24 June, 2022 Munich, Germany The robotics and automation event will focus on innovations and products related to digital transformation, artificial intelligence and man/machine interfaces. A new theme will be sustainable production. https://automatica-munich.com/en PPMA Total Show 2022 27–29 September NEC, Birmingham The show’s organisers say PPMA will be “the UK’s largest-ever event dedicated to state-of-the-art processing and packaging machinery”. They expect to attract more than 400 exhibitors and more than 2,500 brands. Technologies being featured include robots and industrial vision. https://www.ppmashow.co.uk Engineering Design Show 12-13 October 2022 Coventry Claimed to be UK’s biggest event dedicated to engineering, electronics and embedded design. Parking and entry are free. https://www.engineeringdesignshow.co.uk SPS 2022 8–10 November 2022 Nuremberg, Germany The huge automation event returns as a live event for the first time since 2018, after the 2021 event was cancelled at the last minute. It will take place two weeks earlier than in previous years and will be supplemented by a digital-format“SPS on air”event. More than 700 exhibitors have already signed up. https://sps.mesago.com/events/en.html Linked by NFC: ControlTechniques’Commander S microdrive and Marshal app Chris McComb , managing director of the Manchester systems integrator iTech, has succeeded Bob Squirrell as chairman of PIUK, the UK operation of the Profibus Group. Squirrel has retired after almost 30 years.“We launched in the UK in 1993 with just sevenmember companies,” Squirrel recalls,“and now number around 50, having successfully weathered the stormof the Covid pandemic which brought about many changes in how organisations such as ours carried out their day-to-day business.”McComb says he “will endeavour to continue in Bob’s footsteps”and plans to continue building the group through new membership and increasing the value tomembers. Made Smarter, the movement to drive productivity, growth and sustainability in UK manufacturing, has appointed Brian Holliday , managing director of Siemens Digital Industries, as its new co-chair. He will head the Made Smarter Commission alongside Lee Rowley , Minister for Industry, replacing UK former Siemens CEO, Professor JuergenMaier . Holliday and Rowley will steer a board of industrialists from large and SME manufacturers as well as technology providers and manufacturing organisations. The Made Smarter programmes have already received over £150m in government funding.