50 CONTENTS n Drives & Controls is a controlled circulation publication. If you live in the UK and want to subscribe phone 0333 577 0801 or fax 0845 604 2327. Alternatively for both UK and overseas subscriptions please subscribe online at www.drivesncontrols.com. If you have any enquiries regarding your subscription, please use these numbers. The content of this magazine, website and newsletters do not necessarily express the views of the Editor or publishers. The publishers accept no legal responsibility for loss arising from information in this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the publishers. Paid subscriptions UK: £110 per annum Europe: £145 per annum Rest of World: £180 per annum Printing: Warners Midlands PLC., PE10 9PH ISSN 0950 5490 Copyright: DFA Media Group 2024 NEXT ISSUE The July/August issue of Drives & Controls will contain our annual Buyer’s Guide – the industry “bible” for motion control and power transmission engineers, telling you who makes and sells what in the automation and allied sectors. We will also be looking at developments in the transportation sector, and in robotics and automated manufacturing. UPDATE 14 Comment 15 ABB Back to Basics 44 Gambica Column 45 New Products 48 Design Data and Multimedia 49 Products & Services IN DEPTH Follow us on X @DrivesnControls Drives Magazine Web site www.drivesncontrols.com Follow us on LinkedIn @ Drives & Controls Join us on Facebook Drives & Controls Drives& Controls REGULARS DfAmedia group 34 30 28 18 5 48 DRIVES & CONTROLS June 2024 Vol 40 No 6 Editor Tony Sacks t: 01732 465367 e: tony@drives.co.uk Consultant Editor Andy Pye t: 07808 137312 e: andy.pye@dfamedia.co.uk Production Manager Sarah Blake t: 01233 770781 e: sarah.blake@dfamedia.co.uk Operations Manager Emma Godden-Wood t: 01732 370340 e: emma.godden-wood@dfamedia.co.uk Marketing Manager Hope Jepson t: 01732 370340 e: hope.jepson@dfamedia.co.uk Financial Finance Department t: 01732 370340 e: accounts@dfamedia.co.uk ADVERTISING Sales Director Damien Oxlee t: 01732 370342 m: 07951 103754 e: damien.oxlee@dfamedia.co.uk Sales Manager Sara Gordon t: 01732 370341 m: 07505867211 e: sara.gordon@dfamedia.co.uk DFA Direct Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370340 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Italy Oliver & Diego Casiraghi e: info@casiraghi.info t: +39 031 261407 f: +39 031 261380 Managing Director Ryan Fuller t: 01732 370344 e: ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk Chief Executive Officer Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370346 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Reader/Circulation Enquiries Perception-MPS Ltd t: 01825 701520 e: cs@perception-sas.com HEAD OFFICE DFA Media Group 192 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BE t: 01732 370340 f: 01732 360034 e: info@dfamedia.co.uk www.drivesncontrols.com 5 News A round-up of the latest business and industry developments from around the world. 18 Technology Cutting-edge innovations in motion, power transmission, controls and related technologies. 28 Virtualisation Audi has implemented virtual PLCs at one of its plants, with the aim of reducing the variety and number of hardware devices needed, and converting applications to run in software, thus making production faster, more robust and more flexible. 30 Robots It is well-established that using robots can boost productivity. What’s less well-known is that they can also help companies to improve their workplace environments, and to attract and retain talent, as Volvo Cars has discovered. 32 Communications and Networking Mercedes-Benz has upgraded the wireless system that it uses to communicate with a fleet of more than 70 AGVs at a factory in Germany. As well as improving efficiency and safety, the new system complies with the upcoming EU Machinery Regulation. Plus a look at the implications of the latest Wi-Fi standard – Wi-Fi 7 – for industrial users. 36 Mechanical Power Transmission The biggest electricity-generating waterwheel in Europe has been built on a farm in Dorset. An inline planetary gearbox is used to control the wheel’s output, delivering accurate alignment, high efficiency and low transmission losses, thus maximising the electricity output. 40 Smart Warehouses ABB has transformed the warehouse operation at an instrumentation factory in Italy by converting it to an automated storage and retrieval system that has raised efficiency by 90% and cut assembly times by 30%. Plus a look at the cyberthreats to automated warehouses, and how to prepare for them. 43 Wireless Communications An Italian developer of stone-processing machinery has integrated a wireless IO-Link technology into one of its polishing and calibrating machines, simplifying its complexity compared to the previous slipring communications system, as well as saving time and easing maintenance. 36 Average net circulation January to December 2022 44 45 42 Subscribe for your FREE copy now 21,157
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=