Electricity + Control October 2015

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION

ROUND UP

Eplan Harness proD 2.5

Version 2.5 of Eplan Harness proD is just become available. Develop- ment has focused on optimising user workflows and a major new highlight is the coupling of the 3D wire harness engineering system to the Eplan Platform's central parts management.This represents a milestone in integrated data management. Users then have only one central parts management systemwhich they are able to access over the entire course of a project.This significantly reduces the effort in maintaining master databases and enables continuous workflows from schematics through to production documentation. Master data workflows have been further optimised through the derivation of 2D symbols – required for nail board drawing – from existing 3D data. This is particularly efficient because 3D component data is already required. Existing data therefore gets reused – manual creation of component symbols is unnecessary. Simple component positioning in 3D: Eplan Harness proD aims to provide a user-friendly 3D system for wire harness design. Electrical engineers generally have limited experience in operating complex MCAD systems and therefore benefit from a user-friendly approach. For example, by positioning a component, such as a connector, within the 3D space enables the selection of reference point, edges

and areas.This simplifies the positioning process. A preview function helps users to achieve correct positioning at the first attempt avoid- ing the need for subsequent adjustment. Users who use AutoCAD symbols can look forward to a much improved import function. Imported DWG and DXF drawings can be edited inVersion 2.5 with all the relevant content being extracted. Enquiries: EPLAN Software & Service. Johan Reyneke.Tel. 011 609 8294 or email Reyneke.J@eplan-software.co.za

World’s first Premset manufacturing partnership agreement

Schneider Electric has entered into a production partnership agree- ment with Steelcor Power, a South African manufacturer of electri- cal products, to produce its next generation of smart grid-ready, medium voltage (MV) switchgear, Premset. Built using a Shielded Solid Insulation System (2SIS), Premset lets MV network operators

increase safety and efficiency while simultaneously minimising downtime and meeting the needs of the smart grid. 2SIS is a tech- nical breakthrough that protects all the switchgear’s live parts with earth-screened solid insulation, reducing the risk of internal arcing and facilitating top performance in practically any environment.To prepare for production, Steelcor Power has added 900 squaremetres to its factory in Boksburg, an area that has been enhanced with a three-ton gantry crane, a new test bay with a partial discharge fara- day cage, and specialised equipment to manufacture Premset.The first unit is expected to roll off the line for inspection by Schneider Electric France at the end of October 2015. A further 14 units are planned for this year, and production for 2016 will scale up to 200 units with an annual increase of 20%.

Enquiries: Ntombi Mhangwani.Tel. 011 254 6400 or email ntombi.mhangwani@schneider-electric.com

John Farren, chief executive officer at Steelcor Power and Eric Leger, country president for Southern Africa at Schneider Electric, at the signing of the licence agreement.

Make renewable and EFW plants more efficient

Energy from Waste (EFW) plants around the world rely on auto- mated systems from Mitsubishi Electric to optimise performance and ensure the maximum levels of efficiency while also achieving rigorous environmental standards for emissions. Interest in EFW has never been higher. It is estimated that in the UK 17% of the nation’s demand for electricity could be met from EFW generation plants and that this would massively reduce the need for waste disposal in landfill sites. Further it would make a major contribution to recycling targets. As well as traditional power plants Mitsubishi Electric has sup- ported Energy fromWaste, biomass and other new and emerging solutions. Within its experience are biogas based generation at waste water facilities, electricity generation from steam turbines and district heating.

Mitsubishi Electric is launching several innovative new solutions for the EFW industry, including the PMSXmicro, a control system developed specifically for smaller plants, and the Virtual Power Plant which uses cutting edge control technologies to create a stable energy network by automatically managing multiple renewable power plants to work together and meet real-time energy needs. PMSXmicro is designed specifically for smaller scale applications. It runs on a single industrial computer and delivers proven control technology in an inexpensive and easily engineered package. Its integrated alarm and event system allows rapid responses to un- expected events and also records events and messages securely in sequence, allowing process flows to be traced in the event of problems or changes to the plant. Enquiries: Email philip@dmaeuropa.com

Electricity+Control October ‘15

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