n TECHNOLOGY January 2026 www.drivesncontrols.com 16 THE WELSH DRIVES-MAKER Invertek Drives unveiled the latest addition to its Optidrive family of variable-speed drives (VSDs) at the SPS exhibition in Germany. The Optidrive E4, due for release later this year, represents a significant step in Invertek’s general-purpose drive technology, offering enhanced diagnostics, improved connectivity, and advanced motor controls. The E4 has a built-in flight recorder, dual-channel SIL3 Safe Torque Off (STO), USB-C and Bluetooth connections, and industrial Ethernet communications for real-time integration with other systems. The E4 provides extra capabilities compared to the existing E3 model, which will continue to be offered for generalpurpose applications. “The Optidrive E4 was engineered to give OEMs and system integrators a smarter, more connected platform without adding complexity,” explains E4 product manager, Justin Walker. “From USB-C plugin setup, to embedded diagnostics and mobile app support, we’ve focused on accelerating commissioning and simplifying maintenance, while enhancing control performance across an even wider range of motor types.” The E4 supports both induction motors and hybrid permanent magnet motors. Invertek’s latest precision current control algorithms ensure optimum torque production, superior thermal management and reduced electromagnetic interference. There is a built-in C1 EMC filter. With industrial Ethernet interfaces including Profinet, EtherCat and Modbus TCP, the E4 enables real-time data exchange for precision control and diagnostics. It supports predictive maintenance strategies and integrates with Industry 4.0 and IIoT systems. “The E4’s embedded intelligence and network readiness are a direct response to customer demand for drives that communicate, analyse, and adapt,” says Invertek’s sales and marketing director, Rhydian Welson. “By combining fast setup, advanced safety functions and detailed diagnostic insight, the E4 helps users reduce downtime and increase overall equipment effectiveness.” Each Optidrive E4 carries a QR code that acts as a digital product passport. When scanned with a mobile device, the code opens a dedicated app, which provides instant access to detailed information about the drive, including its build data, specifications, and configuration history The code also provides access to configuration data, manuals, and troubleshooting tools, allowing engineers, OEMs and installers to view a complete digital record of the drive, simplifying commissioning, traceability, and lifecycle support. The built-in flight recorder logs operational parameters continuously, helping to analyse events rapidly, and cutting the time taken to resolve issues. The Optidrive E4 will be available from Q3 2026 in frame sizes 1 and 2, with IP20 enclosures. Larger sizes will follow. Invertek Drives CEO, Adrian Ellam, says that the Optidrive E4 “demonstrates how Invertek continues to combine ease-ofuse with cutting-edge innovation. It’s the most connected and diagnostic-capable drive we’ve ever produced, ready for today’s automation challenges and tomorrow’s efficiency standards.” Invertek, which is part of Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI), is manufacturing the new drive at its global headquarters in Welshpool, Wales. www.invertekdrives.com ROCKWELL AUTOMATION HAS announced a “breakthrough” that brings generative AI to the industrial edge, using Nvidia’s Nemotron Nano – a small language model (SLM) that has been optimised for Rockwell’s FactoryTalk Design Studio platform and other Rockwell products, marking “a major step in real-time industrial intelligence”. In collaboration with Nvidia, Rockwell is using the open-source Nemotron-Nano-9B-v2 model and NVvidia NeMo to deliver an edge-based generative AI capability aimed at industrial environments. Nemotron Nano provides the basis for an SLM that can run in edge environments with low space and power requirements. Rockwell is fine-tuning the model with data used by its FactoryTalk Design Studio Copilot. The new model – built for use across design, development, production and maintenance operations – runs on HMI panels, industrial appliances, desktop IDEs (integrated development environments) and server or private cloud environments. It supports both edge and air-gapped deployments, and is claimed to offer better reasoning, predictability and responsiveness than other SLMs. Early evaluations are said to have demonstrated the model achieving reasoning, parallel processing and key performance breakthroughs. The results highlight that it is a good fit for industrial edge applications where instant responsiveness, data security and offline operation are needed. “Industrial automation demands AI that works reliably at the edge and in secure environments,” says Rockwell’s FactoryTalk Design Studio business manager, Tony Carrara. “By fine-tuning the open Nvidia Nemotron model with FactoryTalk Design Studio data, we’re creating solutions that can be deployed anywhere to help our customers accelerate workflows without compromising predictability or control.” “Small language models like Nvidia Nemotron Nano bring realtime intelligence to where decisions are made – from factory floors to power grids,” adds Joey Conway, Nvidia’s senior director for enterprise generative AI software. “With Nvidia Nemotron Nano, enterprises using Rockwell FactoryTalk Design Studio can deploy AI in environments with limited space and power, extending AI from data centres into the heart of real-world operations.” www.rockwellautomation.co.uk Generative AI at the edge extends AI from data centres to the real world Invertek says its new Optidrive E4 is a response to a demand for drives that communicate, analyse and adapt Invertek’s new drive is its ‘most connected and diagnostic-capable’ ever
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