Product category:
Motors and Variable speed drives
News Release from: Control Techniques | Subject: OSMA Lift drives
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 February 2008
Quality drive for German lift market
The high quality of ride from German lift manufacturer OSMA-Aufzuge is in part due to the unique drives and software package that Control Techniques has been able to put together for the company
In particular, the smoothness of the cost-competitive gearless range has helped OSMA to offer an ultra-reliable, high performance solution for the German lift market OSMA prides itself on the flexibility and individuality of its lifts
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 25 Nov 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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With all of the design and build being carried out in-house and with an extensive network of installers, the Osnabruck-based company has total control of every aspect of the production of its lifts for the commercial, public and private markets.
Each installation is custom-designed and manufactured and the company uses the latest materials and techniques to meet customer expectations.
The company switched to drives from Control Techniques in 2005, after discussions with the Control Techniques Drive Centre in Hennef.
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This also coincided with the launch of a new low-cost gearless system.
Initially, the OSMA interest was in the Commander SE AC drive, but, as the relationship developed and the powerful programming capabilities of the Unidrive SP opened up new possibilities in product design, this became the standard and Unidrive SP has become the OSMA drive of choice, incorporated in over 80% of projects.
"We have worked very closely with Dr Holger Konig at Control Techniques on developing advanced lift software and have developed a very good product offer with more features than before" commented the OSMA Technical Manager, Herr Klaus Hebbeler: "On both synchronous and asynchronous motors, the ride profile is more accurate, comfortable and smooth - and the same type of drive does both - the Unidrive SP.
This helps to keep our costs down - one drive for open loop and closed loop, one spare part, one software tool and one lot of training.
It has proved to be an elegant solution all round".
Control Techniques in Germany has been supplying OSMA with Unidrive SP multi-mode AC drives up to 90 kW, complete with special lift software and PC management software that removes complexity during set-up and commissioning.
Each drive is also fitted with a CAN-Bus module for communication with the OSMA control system and, depending on the system requirements, additional modules are added for encoder, sin/cos or resolver feedback.
Over the last 18 months, more and more of the capabilities of the Unidrive SP have been utilised.
"For example, we wanted to use small UPS units to bring the cabin to the nearest floor," says Herr Hebbeler, "but these are easily over-loaded and can burn out.
We asked Dr Konig to help and he wrote a special piece of software to limit demand on the UPS: this works very well".
The Secure Disable feature, built into Unidrive SP drives as standard, is helping to further reduce the overall system costs.
The secure disable function is failsafe in operation, so that when the secure disable input is disconnected, the drive will not operate the motor, even if combinations of components within the drive have failed.
It is also independent of the drive firmware and, as such, meets the requirements of EN954-1 category 3 for the prevention of motor operation.
OSMA has put together a scheme, using the secure disable feature in conjunction with just one contactor, to meet the current requirements of EN81-1 for the operation of lifts.
The Unidrive SP AC variable speed drive range spans 0.75kW right up to 1.9MW.
Unidrive SP is the world's most advanced 'solutions platform' AC drive, configurable into five operating modes - open and closed loop, vector, servo and regenerating modes - connectivity to most industry standard networks and accepting 14 position feedback protocols.
With a range of plug-in module options, its on-board PLC can be supplemented with high-end PLC processors, customer programmable application modules are also offered with a library of software solutions.
"The 'fit' between the OSMA approach and Control Techniques is excellent," concludes Herr Hebbeler, "in terms of flexibility, quality and support.
We have complete confidence in both the products and in the outstanding support we get from the German Drive Centre and, in particular, the whole technical team of Control Techniques.
If CT promises to do something, they never fail to deliver!".
OSMA, established in 1919 and owned by the Schenk family, is one of Germany's most successful lift companies, producing personal and commercial lifts for up to a hundred persons.
Whilst the company has supplied schemes for up to 30 floors, its key market is in designing top quality lifts for the middle of the market - two to eight floors.
Producing some 750 lifts a year - passenger, hospital lifts, panorama and freight lifts too - the company supplies the German market only and supports its customers with 16 regional sales / service centres around the country. Request a free brochure from Control Techniques ...
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