Electricity + Control July 2015

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SEW-EURODRIVE appoints new MD
After 12 years of service, SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa MD Ute
Schoeman has stepped down to open up her own business as a
business and marketing consultant in the industrial sector.
Schoeman, who made a name for herself as one of the young-
est and first female managing directors in the power transmission
game, has led the company to double its turnover during her reign.
SEW-EURODRIVE would like to thank Schoeman for her years of
service to the company, and we wish her the best of luck in her future
endeavours. She will be replaced by general manager operations,
Raymond Obermeyer, who boasts more than 25 years of operational
experience at SEW-EURODRIVE.
Obermeyer, who takes up his post from 1 July 2015, was instru-
mental in the upgrading of SEW-EURODRIVE’s facilities countrywide.
He was also involved in the streamlining of process flow in the
factories, which has led to optimum productivity and reduced de-
livery times. Obermeyer hails from Nelspruit, where he was initially
the branchmanager before his promotion to operations and logistics
general manager three years ago.
“I have every confidence in Raymond’s ability to lead the company
to new heights. SEW-EURODRIVE has grown by leaps and bounds
in the last ten years and Raymond has the necessary operational
experience and passion for the business to ensure that this trend
continues” concludes Schoeman.
Enquiries: Go to
Insulation and protection
Starting an electrical drive on a machine
that has been standing for a long period of
time should be avoided until the insulation
level of the motor has been found accept-
able. Insulation degradation can occur as a
result of moisture ingress in motors which
stand for long periods - a situation typically
found on plants that work seasonally or in
applications where there is a high degree of
water contamination.
Insulation is subject to many elements
that can cause it to perform at a less than
acceptable level. Excessive heat or cold,
moisture, vibration, dirt, oil, and corrosive
vapours can all contribute to deterioration.
For this reason, routine insulation testing
is necessary.
NewElec’s EC/ED relay solves this prob-
lem by monitoring the insulation integrity
of the motor windings and feeder cables to
earth while the motor is standing.
The main contactor is prevented from
closing into a circuit in which the insulation
level to earth has deteriorated to an unac-
ceptable level.
Enquiries: Email
ROUND UP
MV motor control
With medium voltage motors typically some of the largest consum-
ers of power in heavy industries, implementing precise, smart motor
control is an effective way of significantly reducing power consump-
tion and energy costs, along with significantly better process control.
Since they were first manufactured in 1983, Rockwell Automation
Allen-Bradley medium voltage drives have earned a reputation for
reliable, efficient motor control across the industry’s most demanding
applications. The company recently extended this medium voltage
motor control range with the addition of the PowerFlex 6000, provid-
ing a cost-effective and fit-for-purpose drive.
The PowerFlex 6000 supplements the existing PowerFlex 7000
range in providing a cost-effective motor control solution that is
ideal for new and retrofit centrifugal fan and pump applications
rated up to 10 kV.
Utilising the industry-accepted and robust Cascaded ‘H’ Bridge
(CHB) Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) topology, the PowerFlex 6000
drive provides low-input harmonics and near-unity power factor,
ultimately reducing power system issues and maximising motor
efficiency while providing simple use andmaintenance requirements.
PowerFlex 6000 is an air-cooled drive designed exclusively for induc-
tion motors. Designed for smaller field applications, the PowerFlex
6000 supports motor cable lengths of up to 300 m (the PowerFlex
7000 supports motors from lengths of up to 15 km). It has a seven-
inchWinCE ColourTouch Screen and supports Modbus-RTU RS485,
Modbus-TCP, Modbus-PLUS RS485, Profibus RS485 and EtherNet/
IP communications protocols.
The PowerFlex 7000 remains the flagship PowerFlex product, offer-
ing multiple configurations and high-performance, customisable op-
tions for the diverse control needs of heavy industrial requirements.
UtilisingActive Front End (AFE) technology and a patented switching
technique, the PowerFlex 7000 product line, rated from 2,4 kV to 6,6
kV, guarantees industrial applications the highest overall system ef-
ficiency whilst complying to stringent international standards. The
drive achieves lower line harmonics and improved power quality
through the AFE rectifier, which features a single rectifier bridge
to maintain the lowest component count and system complexity.
Enquiries: Henry Craukamp.Tel. 011 654 9700
or email
DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR
Raymond Obermeyer,
new Managing Director for
SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa.
SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa
MD Ute Schoeman has stepped
down after 12 years.
Electricity+Control July ‘15 34