Drives & Controls Magazine January 2026

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 2026 NEXT ISSUE The February issue of Drives & Controls will look at what’s happening in the world of robotics and automated manufacturing, report on some of the highlights of the recent SPS show in Germany, and cover developments involving sensors and encoders. UPDATE 14 Comment 15 ABB Back to Basics 45 Gambica Column 46 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 40 36 28 26 5 48 DRIVES & CONTROLS JANUARY 2026 Vol 42 No 1 Editor Tony Sacks t: 01732 465367 e: tony@drives.co.uk Production Manager Sarah Blake t: 01233 770781 e: sarah.blake@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. 26 EU Legislation A new piece of European legislation, known as the Data Act, has potential implications for UK machine-builders that want to export equipment to the EU. A compliance specialist examines these issues, and offers advice on what machine-builders need to do to ensure that they comply with the Act. 28 Drives How variable-speed drives are being used in two separate drinks container recycling applications, in Germany and the Netherlands. Plus a look at how low-harmonic drives are helping to ensure the efficiency of a large-scale heat pump installation, and advice on unlocking the untapped potential of inverters. 36 Gears and Gearboxes How magnetically geared motors can improve the efficiency, reliability and cost-effectiveness of applications in many industrial sectors. Plus how Gatwick airport has upgraded its gearboxes to use a biomass lubricant, and how a UK company that makes welds inspection systems is using spiral-bevel gears to grind the welds. 40 Packaging and Printing Changing consumer expectations are transforming packaging production from mass-produced uniformity, to personalisation and customisation, forcing suppliers to innovate. Plus how an Austrian label printing specialist has installed an inline inspection system that detects errors at an early stage, and how one of the Baltic’s largest furniture-makers has restructured its packaging operations. 44 Southern Manufacturing The Southern Manufacturing & Electronics exhibition is returning to its Farnborough venue next month. We look at what visitors can expect to find when they attend the exhibition. 44 45 Average net circulation January to December 2024 Subscribe for your FREE copy now 20,514 16 46

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