Product category:
Motors and Variable speed drives
News Release from: ABB Automation Tech (Drives and Motors) | Subject: General machinery drive
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 December 2005
Low cost, feature packed small drive
launched
ABB engineers have launched a variable speed drive 0.37 to 7.5kW into a fiercely competitive market - it is one of the smallest drives in its class, with the lowest UK price - plus a list of features
"In a fiercely competitive market our engineers have pulled off another drive breakthrough This is one of the smallest drives with as many or as few options as you need, priced at a level that puts us ahead of the game" said Steve Ruddell, general manager, ABB drives and motors at the recent press launch of this new drive in London
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 18 Dec 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
ABB general machinery drives extended to 22kW
The power range of the ABB general machinery drive has been extended to 22kW, for food and beverage, material handling, textile, printing, rubber and plastic, as well as woodworking
Record breaking electric car to go the distance
ABB has found a novel way to put its drives and motors to the ultimate test by providing the main drive system for the British challenger to to the world electric land speed record
ABB has designed a drive range which it claims gives OEMs, panelbuilders and end-users one of the smallest sizes, lowest cost and most comprehensive benefits of any drive currently available in the UK marketplace.
The ABB general machinery drive is rated from 0.37 to 7.5 kW.
The range is aimed at OEMs, panel builders, system integrators and end users and is ideal for a wide range of machinery applications in sectors such as food processing, material handling, textiles, rubber and plastics, printing and woodworking.
Further reading
Data for over 500 motors now available online
Motor performance curves, data sheets and drawings for low voltage AC motors, from 0.055 to 710 kW, are now available from the ABB website: data for more than 500 motors to be downloaded or viewed
High voltage motors are standardised for OEMs
A new range of standard high voltage induction motors, ready for delivery within days, has been launched by ABB: lower priced than engineered motors, these are ideal for OEMs needing standard product
ABB becomes preferred supplier for Imerys Minerals
Aiming to save downtime costs of up to GBP10,000 per hour, Imerys Minerals in Cornwall has entered an agreement with ABB to supply motors and drives to its UK plants
The drives will be available at multiple distribution outlets across the UK ranging from the ABB Drives Alliance through to general distributors, stockists and catalogue houses.
The drives are much smaller than other competitive drives in this segment.
For instance, the 5.5 kW model is 25% smaller than the Telemecanique ATV31 and 58% smaller than the Siemens MM440 with the same output.
The small size makes it easy for panel builders and OEMs to design smaller control panels or increase the packing density in existing panels.
Significantly, all the drives in the range from the smallest (0.37 kW) to the largest (7.5 kW) are the same height and depth, with only the width varying between sizes, enabling easy side-by-side mounting.
No additional space is needed for air circulation and DIN rail mounting is possible.
When cabinet depth is very limited, the drives can even be mounted with one side to the back of the cabinet.
The drives feature a totally new generation of Fieldbus adaptors.
These small, enclosed, plug-in cards offer high speed communications, catering for many protocols.
Size and cost have been reduced by focusing on the typical features required by users in this market segment.
When further features are needed, these are available as options and the price simply follows the need.
Options include two types of control panel, potentiometer and fieldbus adapters for DeviceNet, Profibus DP, CANopen and ModBus RTUF.
Size is also reduced by using a new generation of power semiconductors which gives lower power losses and reduces the need for cooling, enabling the use of smaller heatsinks.
Despite the small size, the drives have both EMC filter and brake chopper built-in.
The range is competitively priced.
For instance, the 5.5 kW 3-phase model is priced 2.5% below its nearest competitor and up to 19% less than other manufacturers comparable products.
The drives are available as 1-phase, 200 to 240 V, 0.37 to 2.2 kW; 3-phase, 200 to 240 V, 0.37 to 4 kW; and 3-phase, 380 to 480 V, 0.37 to 7.5 kW.
Features include the ABB patented FlashDrop technology, enabling users to upload parameters in less than two seconds without even powering the drive up.
Important parameters can be quickly and safely downloaded into a drive using a hand-held FlashDrop unit.
This makes it easy for OEMs to pre-configure drives before delivery and helps high-volume OEMs to streamline the commissioning process.
Sequence programming gives an easy way to create sequences of operations.
These programs are useful in applications where the drive controls the motor using signals from sensors and limit switches.
This helps to reduce the need for external PLCs, making for less complex motor control systems, which also reduces costs.
• ABB Automation Tech (Drives and Motors): contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
