Drives & Controls September 2022

Join us on Facebook Drives & Controls Follow us on LinkedIn @Drives & Controls Followus on Twitter @DrivesnControls For the latest news visit the Drives & Controls website www.drivesncontrols.com Find out the latest on Drives & Controls Show www.drives-expo.com SHOW Drives & Controls Drives & Controls WEATHERING THE ENERGY STORM This issue of Drives & Controls went to press before the new Prime Minister Liz Truss had revealed how her government was planning to help both consumers and businesses to weather the energy price storm. Hopefully, she has since unveiled a package of measures that will alleviate the hardships for all sectors of the economy. But the scale of the problems faced by the manufacturing sector was made clear in a survey conducted by Make UK, the manufacturers’ association, before the government had published its measures. The survey revealed that nearly six out of ten UK manufacturers (58%) saw the rocketing energy prices as a threat to their businesses. Just four months earlier, a similar survey had found that just 8% of manufacturers harboured such fears. The new survey also found that 13% of UK manufacturers had already cut their operating hours or were avoiding production during peak periods, and that 7% were stopping production for longer periods, while 12% reported that they had already made job cuts as a result of the higher energy bills. If help did not come soon, some warned, they would be faced with a stark choice – cut production or shut up shop. Make UK points that the impacts of high energy prices have been felt by manufacturers of all sizes. Some 58% have already made changes to cut their energy consumption – for example by installing more efficient heating systems or insulating their buildings. Make UK came up with a series of proposals to help alleviate manufacturers’energy problems. These include removing the Carbon Price Support – a levy that only UK businesses pay. This could save mid-sized firms almost £90,000 a year. The organisation also suggested extending the 100% rates exemption for plant used in on-site renewable energy generation and storage from 12 months to at least three years. It also wanted the government to extend business rate relief on measures such as insulation, by a similar amount. By now, it should be clear whether the government has implemented any of these suggestions. Looking for a silver lining in the energy crisis is difficult, but it should strengthen the case for installing variable-speed drives and high- efficiency motors in applications such as pumps and fans where the energy-saving paybacks will be even shorter than before – a few weeks or less in some installations. And, of course, these technologies will continue to save money for as long as they are in service. But whether motor users will see spending capital on new installations as a priority when the very existence of their businesses is under threat, is another matter. Also, even if they do, will they be able to find suitable motors and drives from suppliers hit by component shortages and soaring material and transport costs? Tony Sacks, Editor n COMMENT