27 www.drivesncontrols.com February 2025 SPS SHOW REVIEW n ABB has launched a 12-inch HMI for control cabinets, which is both IEC and UL certified, and brings the convenience of touchscreen operation to intelligent main distribution boards. The Lite Panel Pro provides an overview of all of the installed switchgear devices, their status and measured values. It can network these devices to simplify commissioning, as well as monitoring energy consumption. The panel recognises ABB low-voltage devices automatically, including its Clever circuit-breakers, TruOne automatic transfer switches, fuse blocks with ITS2 modules, M2M and M4M network analysers, A and B series energy meters, and the SCU200 controller for ABB’s InSite energy monitoring system. This cuts installation times and eliminates the need for complex programming. The HMI gives users an overview of the switchgear data, including real-time monitoring of voltage, current, power and energy consumption. It can show current conditions, track energy consumption, or identify potential inefficiencies. In addition, for some devices, operating data such as switching states, maintenance data or temperature states can be recorded, alarms set, and past events viewed. The panel can integrate with existing switchgear infrastructure, including monitoring systems such as Scada or building management, or with ABB’s Ability energy manager. It can thus help to improve energy management from commissioning through to eventual operation. The data can be collected and fed to higherlevel systems. “The Lite Panel Pro offers users an intuitive user interface and an easy way to view and understand the entire energy distribution and current energy consumption,” explains Nico Torfels, a product marketing specialist at ABB Electrification. “Commissioning, energy monitoring and maintenance measures can be carried out faster and easier.” https://new.abb.com/about/ our-businesses/electrification On its stand at SPS, the encoder-maker Heidenhain was demonstrating how secondary encoders can not only improve the accuracy of cobots (collaborative robots) but also provide collision monitoring without needing additional torque sensors. By watching a force gauge, visitors could see how the robot stayed within defined force thresholds and could switch off automatically when the exerted force exceeded 100Nm – a critical limit for collisions between cobots and humans. Heidenhain argues that cobot manufacturers can improve the absolute position accuracy of their robots significantly by adding an accurate angle encoder on each robot axis. Mounted downstream from the gear system, these secondary encoders measure the actual position of each robot joint. The modular encoders, with scale drums or measuring ring and separate scanners, are ideal for large shaft diameters and challenging installations. Modular devices that can serve as secondary encoders include the robust WMRA inductive angle encoder from Heidenhain’s AMO brand, and the new MCR 16 angle encoder from the RSF brand, which provides optical scanning with improved signal quality for measuring absolute positions on largediameter axes. In another demonstration, Heidenhain was showing how three different encoders on a measuring arm can transmit position, sensor and monitoring data over just four wires with a cycle time of 30µs using the EnDat 3 data interface in bus operation. The benefits include reduced cabling, functional safety and extensive diagnostics. www.heidenhain.com At SPS, SEW-Eurodrive used a software-defined machine model to showcase its vision of the future of digital transformation. The company has collaborated with Germany’s Software Defined Automation and Italy’s Clevertech to develop a secure, Web-based tool that, it says, will “revolutionise” the orchestration and distribution of OT (operational technology) software from different suppliers. Called DriveOperations, the tool integrates controllers and components, and simplifies software supply, management and support. The IDEaaS tools run in the cloud, without needing downloads or local installation. There's less need for costly on-site services, cutting the costs of project planning, start-up, operation and maintenance. With DriveOperations, users will always have access to the correct software version for configuring and adapting their industrial automation installations. Secure remote access makes it possible to initiate backups and adjust the system safely, as well as making it easy to restore. If the cloud connection is lost, the system can be restored from a local backup. DriveOperations provides those responsible for production with transparency about the current status of all their controllers. Third parties can also be given temporary, monitored access. The concept also makes it possible for packaging industry operators, such as Clevertech, to offer scalable packaging systems, regardless of proprietary PLCs. SEW says this will boost the efficiency of machinery throughout its service life. It adds that the future of automation will be shaped by intelligent algorithms and the use of AI, and that DriveOperations paves the way for software-defined virtual factories. www.sew-eurodrive.co.uk Software-based machines ‘will define the factory of the future’ Touchscreen panel delivers insights into switchgear behaviour ABB’s Lite Panel Pro display brings the convenience of touchscreen operation to distribution systems. Demo shows how secondary encoders can enhance cobots SEW-Eurodrive says that its DriveOperations tool paves the way for software-dened virtual factories
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