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 October issue of Drives & Controls will contain a special section devoted to developments in machine-building, as well as round-ups of recent applications in precision engineering and motion control, and news from the water industry. UPDATE 14 Comment 15 ABB Back to Basics 48 Gambica column 52 New Products 56 Multimedia and Design Data 57 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 38 30 24 16 5 56 DRIVES & CONTROLS September 2024 Vol 40 No 8 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 and DFA Direct 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 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 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. 16 Technology Cutting-edge innovations in motion, power transmission, controls and related technologies. 24 Automation Embarking on an automation project can be a daunting prospect for many manufacturers. But by putting some planning and thought into the process, the journey can become much smoother. An expert outlines six factors that he considers to be essential for integrating automation projects successfully. 27 Energy efficiency Should you upgrade your electric motors simply to save energy? Plus examples of how energy consumption has been reduced in a variety of sectors ranging from Mexico’s tequila industry, to feed milling, and the production of brass hardware and accessories. 36 Food and beverage We report on the world’s first robotic machine designed to slice large sausages. Plus how automation is being used to develop insect-farming technologies in the UK and in Denmark. As well as a machine vision application which is being used to examine ceramic bottle-tops. 38 Service and Repairs How the failure of a motor bearing at a minerals-processing plant resulted in a 25% drop in output – and how this could have been avoided. Plus how a crane at a Dutch port has been given a new lease of life by converting its previous DC drive system to AC motors and drives. 50 PPMA Show preview The PPMA show – the UK’s largest event for processing and packaging machinery, industrial robots and machine vision systems – returns to the NEC later this month. It is expected to attract more than 350 exhibitors and more than 8,000 visitors. 48 Average net circulation January to December 2023 52 54 Subscribe for your FREE copy now 18,942 50 15
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=