Drives & Controls May 2022

1 Drawing crowds to the Beckhoff stand was a demonstration of the company’s xPlanar technology which uses magnetically levitated“tiles”to transport items on production lines, and is capable of moving them with six degrees of freedom – including rotating and even tilting. 2 Oriental Motor was demonstrating how its AZ series of servomotors can operate efficiently in closed-loop applications using absolute sensors. 3 Control Techniques used the Show to launch its new Commander S microdrives which use NFC to communicate with an app, called Marshal, running on a mobile device. The NFC link is used for programming, commissioning, diagnostics and other functions. 4 As well as launching a new range of multi-axis servodrives (see Technology section), Trio Motion unveiled a series of Scara robots that combine motion functions and machine automation in one package. The robots, with payload capacities up to 6kg, are said to simplify programming, maintainability and extensibility. 5 On its colourful stand, Emas was showing items from its wide-ranging portfolio, including its innovative digital potentiometers, tower beacons and LED e-stop legends. 6 Euchner used the show to launch an EtherCat P bus module for its Multifunctional Gate Box 2 safety door system. It provides diagnostic functions in the form of EtherCat messages, while a built-inWeb server provides details of the device status. 7 Ewellix, based on the former SKF MotionTechnologies, made its first Drives & Controls Show appearance since adopting its new identity in 2019. It was displaying items from its wide range of linear motion technologies, including smart actuators, rail guides and rollerscrews. 8 As well as demonstrating items, including robots, from its vast portfolio, Mitsubishi Electric unveiled a new sector-based approach to the UK automation market, based on three pillars: intelligence in manufacturing, building management and process automation. 9 In an eye-catching demonstration, Stober Drives was showing the differences in accuracy and efficiency between performing positioning with or without encoders. 10 Boston Dynamics’robot“dog”Spot was a crowd-stopper as he patrolled the show under guidance of engineers from the ManufacturingTechnology Centre. 11 On its stand, Bosch Rexroth was demonstrating several of its technologies being used to engrave visitors’names onmetal business card holders. It also showed off its ctrlX automation systemwhich blurs the boundaries betweenmachine controls, IT and the IoT. 12 As well as launching its CFW900 family of high-performance drives, WEG was also displaying items from its motors portfolio, including its new Motion Fleet Management module which improves the automatic diagnosis of motor problems. 13 One of two theatres on the exhibition floor was the Knowledge Hub where a variety of expert speakers offered practical advice spanning a wide range of topics. 14 The Talking Industry series of panel discussions, which have so far taken place as online Webinars, became live events for the first time at the NEC show. 15 Dominating one of the show entrances was this 1,500hp Nissan GT-R, which is usually driven by champion drift driver Steve “Baggsy” Bagioni, who signed a further two-year deal with the hydraulic componets manufacturer Stauff at the show. BACK IN BRUM After a four-year Covid-enforced absence, the Drives & Controls Show and its co-locatedmanufacturing industry events returned to the BirminghamNational Exhibition Centre last month. On these pages, we give a flavour of what the visitors to the shows experienced. 14 15 13 DRIVES & CONTROLS SHOW REVIEW n 12