Mechanical Technology October 2016

Mechanical Technology — October 2016

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Power transmission, bearings, bushes and seals

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“

he focal point of BMG’s

Electra Mining exhibit was

a display of the company’s

extensive electro-mechan-

ical range, with representative examples

of its industrial drive systems in use by

industry across southern Africa. Exhibits

featured products from Nord, Sumitomo

and Paramax, with whom BMG holds

exclusive distribution agreements,” says

Mark Barbour, BMG business unit man-

ager for electromechanical drives.

“Since BMG’s acquisition in 2015 of

Hansen Transmissions South Africa, the

company has broadened its mechanical

drives range and strengthened its long

term partnership with Sumitomo as the

sole distributor in sub Saharan Africa of

Sumitomo speed reducers,” he adds.

Decentralised VLT drives

BMG’s Danfoss range includes the decen-

tralised VLT

FCD 302 drive, designed

for installations where multiple ac motors

are spread around a facility. Typical appli-

cations include bottling, food preparation

and packaging plants.

“In these applications, where cabling

costs are excessive and control room

space is limited, it makes sense to get

the speed controller closer to the motors,”

says David Dyce, BMG’s electronics man-

ager. “Unlike some decentralised drive

systems, the FCD 302 drive – which is

a one box concept – can be mounted

close to, or directly onto motors. This

system is designed to minimise design

and installation costs, at the same time

ensuring efficiency and total reliability

of the drive system. There is no need for

field distribution or drop down boxes and

At Electra Mining this year, BMG highlighted the company’s electro-mechanical range and its integrated

engineering solutions and technical services on offer for optimising productivity and enhancing operating

reliability and energy efficiency.

BMG

showcases electro-mechanical range

no external 24 V dc supply is required.

“Another advantage is any drive trip

can be quickly and accurately isolated

to a particular drive unit, which enables

simple maintenance and increases up-

time of the system.”

This new generation, high perfor-

mance decentralised drive is available

in two frame sizes to perfectly match

the requirements of different production

applications, including: dry areas; wash

down installations; and for hygienic

environments.

This new system, which has an IP 66

enclosure – for protection against dust

ingress and high-pressure water jets from

any direction – meets stringent hygienic

standards, including the new ‘European

Hygienic Engineering and Design Group’

(EHEDG) regulations.

These new drives are proving to be

popular with OEMs – there are fewer

boxes to be mounted in fewer positions,

with less connections and terminations

so that labour costs are significantly

reduced. The OEM is able to deliver

the whole conveying system ex-factory,

pre-wired and pre-tested – this reduces

commissioning time after installation.

The advanced vector control of this

system enables compatibility with

permanent magnet motors and asyn-

chronous motors, without the need for

an encoder and the FCD 302’s safety

features include a standard safe-stop

functionality that prevents the drive from

starting unintentionally.

R350-million expansion

“Another highlight is the R350-million

expansion of BMG’s company’s distri-

bution and engineering facilities – BMG

World. The objective of this development

programme, which is nearing completion,

is to centralise functional and support

operations onto one site to improve sup-

ply chain processes across the Group.

Through this rationalisation initiative,

BMG strives to achieve cost optimisa-

tion, improve regionalised branch office

support and enhance customer service

capability,” continues Barbour.

BMG’s technical resources centre

offers services that positively influence

a company’s operating efficiencies, by

ensuring maximised mechanical reli-

ability of plant and machinery. Services

include technical applications consulting,

product and system design, on-site pro-

cess analysis, lab and on-site oil analysis,

product quality control and assurance,

as well as condition monitoring services.

BMG World will also be home to field

services. The company now has 140 mo-

bile technicians with specialist technical

skills and equipment to conduct break-

down and routine maintenance on plant.

This team carries out trouble-shooting

and advises on possible productivity im-

provements, to ensure the highest level

of plant output and reliability.

BMG is committed to providing a

24-hour customer process support for

production efficiency and reliability cen-

tred maintenance. This is enhanced by

advanced technical and design support

across all functional disciplines.

Left

: The VLT Automation Drive range is available from

BMG in a power range from 0.25 kW to 1.4 MW.

Below:

BMG’s stand at this year’s Electra Mining exhibi-

tion highlighted the company’s electro-mechanical

solutions and technical services.