2nd Quarter 2012Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Using Siemens technology, the world’s first solar ski lift is being operated in Tenna, in the Swiss Canton of Grisons. The Skilift Tenna (GST) co-operative opted for technology from Siemens Industry Automation Division to modernise its drag-lift. Since its commissioning in late 2011, the solar ski lift has produced three times more solar power than that required to operate it and has doubled the number of people it can transport.
The 460 metre long drag-lift is located at an altitude of 1644 metres in the holiday resort of Tenna and required refurbishing after 40 years in operation. To achieve this, GST opted for a combination of a photovoltaic system and automation.
The newly installed photovoltaic equipment associated with the drag-lift is based on a solar wing system, whereby 82 photovoltaic modules forming so-called solar wings are hung between position of the sun. The system produces a total power of about 90 000 kWh a year, two thirds of which are fed back into the grid at market prices, using Sinvert PVM string inverters. The drag-lift’s operation involves a significant number of automation components. A Simatic S7 programmable logic controller, enhanced with a fail-safe CPU and ET 200S modules, control the ski lift‘s movements. The refurbishment made it possible to double the hourly transport capacity to 800 persons. The exchange of data between the lift’s mountain and valley stations is also based on Siemens technology, using an IM 151-3 interface module from the ET 200S distributed peripherals range. The entire ski lift system is operated using a Simatic Touch Panel.
Read more...PC-based control for additive machine tools Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
IRPD is a specialist in additive machine tools. Development is heavily focused on high system throughput and consistently high process quality. This goal was achieved with the help of PC- and EtherCAT-based control and drive technology from Beckhoff.
Read more...Major software release for Parker PSD servo drives Parker Hannifin - Sales Company South Africa
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Parker Hannifin has released its PSD servo drive family delivering new control modes, advanced synchronisation functions and performance optimisations designed to improve throughput, accuracy and system efficiency in demanding industrial applications.
Read more...Beckhoff expands economy drive system Beckhoff Automation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Beckhoff’s new AM1000 servomotor joins the company’s economy drive system. The compact, powerful motor and the AX1000 servo drive provide users with a perfectly coordinated, cost-optimised drive system.
Read more...Moving next-generation monopiles
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Wind turbine sizes are increasing at an unprecedented rate. The bigger the turbine, the more power it can generate and the fewer are needed per wind farm. Mammoet has been ahead of the curve in coming up with ways to make the movement of even XXL monopiles faster and more cost-effectively.
Read more...PC-based control for flat wire motors for electric vehicles Beckhoff Automation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Special machine manufacturer, ruhlamat Huarui Automation Technologies has unveiled the second generation of its mass production line for flexible stators with bar winding (pins). This enables an extremely short production cycle and line changeover times, supported by PC- and EtherCAT-based control technology from Beckhoff.
Read more...New generation surface drill rig
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Epiroc South Africa is launching a new and improved PowerROC T45. This new generation surface drill rig offers increased fuel efficiency and high availability, and is a welcome addition to the PowerROC family.
Read more...Rip-and-ship solution speeds up nuclear decommissioning project
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
When removing steam generators from decommissioned nuclear reactor buildings, the most economical method is to remove them in one piece. Mammoet was commissioned by Framatome to support with the removal of four steam generators from PreussenElektra’s Nuclear Power Plant Unterweser in Germany.
Read more...Helping to solve wastewater challenges
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
KSB Pumps and Valves is doubling its efforts to help government and municipalities find practical and technical solutions to the growing wastewater challenges gripping large parts of the country.
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