Electricity + Control January 2016

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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following companies and individuals for their
contributions and inputs towards my research project, without the
help of these individuals my research project would not be possible.
• Tectra Automation – Kevin Lombard (GM), Research project spon-
sor while supplying continuous mentoring
• Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) – Dr. Jamiru, Tamba
(PhD Field of specialisation: Materials) – Supervisor and mentor
to this research project
• TUT – Professor Sadiku, Rotimi (PhD Field of specialisation: Ma-
terials) – Input and mentoring towards my research project
• Robert Bosch – Nelis Gouws (Project Manager) – Contact at Robert
Bosch for whom the research project is being done
• Wilec South Africa - Paul Senior (Business Development Execu-
tive) - Technical assistance with resin selection and supply of
resin used for testing
• H Rohloff – Pieter de Lange (Marketing Director) – Supply of
temperature measuring equipment used in experiments
DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR
Jaco de Beer is a Project Engineer at Tectra Automation,
responsible for the company’s Project Department. Five
years’ experience in turnkey automation projects, Jaco
takes customers specifications and turns them into working
systems. Jaco has his B.Tech in Mechatronics, and is cur-
rently completing his Master’s Degree in Mechatronics. He
is certified as having completed the following courses:
• National Diploma – Mechatronics
• Baccalaureus Technologia (B.Tech) – Mechatronics
• Academic Excellence Award – both Diploma and B.Tech.
• Programme in Project Management – Certificate with Distinction
• Research Methodology – Certificate
• Courses in – Advanced Excel, MS Project and Pneumatics
Enquiries:
ROUND UP
10 MillionthVSD rolls off production line
The ten millionth ABB low voltage drive rolled off the production
line at ABB’s Beijing factory in November. The ten millionth drive
is going toWuhan Guide Electric Co. in China, a system integrator
manufacturing electric control systems for port cranes. “The out-
standing DirectTorque Control (DTC) motor control technology and
built-in crane control software of ABB’s industrial drives help us to
maximise crane performance. For our customers – the ports – ABB
industrial drives mean improved safety, high availability, and high
total efficiency, resulting in lower energy costs,” says Mr. Li Xiang
of Wuhan Guide Electric Group Co. Drive number 10 million is an
ACS880 industrial drive, part of ABB’s all-compatible drives
portfolio. Compatible with virtually all types of processes,
motors, automation systems and users, they are designed to
tackle any motor-driven application in any industry, whatever
the power range. The innovation behind all-compatibility is
the new drive architecture, which simplifies operation, opti-
mises energy efficiency and helps maximise process output.
The ACS880 series consists of single drives, multidrives and
drive modules.
“We place high demands on our suppliers, especially con-
cerning product quality, reliability and service. ABB drives live
up to our requirements, and for ten years now we’ve had a
strategic partnership with ABB,” says Mr. Li Xiang. ABB devel-
oped its first ac drive in the 1970s, and today they offer the most
advanced range of Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) in the world.
ABB drives cover a wide power and voltage range, including
voltages up to 13,8 kilovolts and power up to 100 megawatts.
Enquiries: Paul LouwTel. 010 202 5916 or email
or visit
DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR
19 January ‘16 Electricity+Control