Asset Performance Marketplace

Energy-Saving Motor Soft-Starter

Franklin Control Systems, formerly Cerus Industrial, has released the IMS-RV (Industrial Motor Starter – Reduced Voltage) energy-saving soft-starter. It features proprietary Starter Control Module (SCM) technology, which provides protection and utility-grade power monitoring, while saving as much as 50-75% of installation and component costs compared to traditional motor starters. Start-up current limit is adjustable, as is the initial voltage and start time, and additional features include multiple starting modes such as voltage ramp, current limited start and torque boost.

Franklin Control Systems
Hillsboro, OR

Enhanced Security For Vision Systems

Cognex Directory Server (CDS) software version 1.0, for the company’s line of In-Sight® vision systems, centralizes authorization and authentication control for all users network-wide. CDS leverages industry-standard IT infrastructure and protocols such as LDAP, SSL and HTTPS for network security. Credentials are passed to CDS for authentication when someone initiates a log-in to an In-Sight Camera. User-specific permissions are then transferred back to the camera. Permissions can be set for each user and access can be customized by job parameters, camera settings, In-Sight Explorer maintenance functions and more. 

Cognex Corp.
Natick, MA

Large Industrial-Robot Family 

ABB Robotics has introduced the IRB 6700 robot family, its seventh generation of large industrial robots.  The IRB 6700 is available in payloads from 331 to 661 lb. (150 to 300 kg), reaches from 8.5 to 10.5 ft. (2.6 to 3.2 m), and is designed for spot welding, material handling and machine tending. According to the company, power consumption has been lowered by 15 percent, total cost of ownership has been reduced by up to 20 percent compared to previous models, and maintenance has been optimized, doubling the time between service intervals. Access to motors has also been improved and technical documentation for maintenance has become easier to read and understand through the use of improved graphics and 3D simulations called “Simstructions.” The new model is available with LeanID, an Integrated Dressing (ID) designed for easier programming and a smaller footprint. It has also been built to withstand harsh working environments and is available with ABB’s ultimate Foundry Plus 2 protection system. 

ABB Robotics
Auburn Hills, MI

Custom Seals For Hydropower Service

SKF has introduced a comprehensive range of custom-machined sealing solutions exclusively engineered for applications in the hydropower industry. The company can supply virtually any kind of seal for any application and in any quantity, dimension and profile. All can be manufactured from a proprietary self-lubricated cast polyurethane material blend that, according to the company, offers up to four times the service life of conventional seal materials. Additional material options are also available to meet specific application demands.

SKF
Lansdale, PA

Shaft Grounding System

Helwig Carbon’s new line of shaft grounding systems can help protect motors from bearing failure, a major cause of motor downtime. The stock kits fit most motors and various shaft sizes, and are easy to install, maintain and work effectively in contaminated environments. The grounding assemblies divert static and induced electrical currents in the motor shafts away from the bearings, protecting them from pitting and potential damage. 

Helwig Carbon, Inc.
Milwauke, WI

Busway For IT And Data Centers

Schneider Electric’s Powerbus™ Busway is rated to 400A at 600V and designed for IT and data-center infrastructures. The product replaces traditional centralized cable distribution runs with a more flexible method of power distribution above the equipment, easing energy monitoring and reducing energy losses without adding to the unit’s footprint. It also offers high plug-in unit density, with up to 20 openings every 10 feet. New 240V and 480V tap-off boxes can accommodate up to three circuit drops per plug-in unit and rack-mounting kits ease installation by directly mounting the busway to APC™ brand racks.

Schneider Electric
Palatine, IL

Control-System Power Management

SEL’s SEL-2245-4 AC Metering Module, available on the SEL-2240 Axion® Distributed Control and Integration Platform, integrates accurate voltage and current measurement with high-speed sampling for event recording. The AC Metering Module includes four ac voltage inputs and four ac current inputs, with event reports sampled at rates ranging from 1–24 kHz with an rms accuracy of 0.1 percent. The Axion’s rugged design and operational environmental ratings are well suited for demanding control and monitoring applications.

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
Pullman, WA

Advanced-Process Welding Module

Lincoln Electric’s Power Wave® advanced welding power module performs several welding processes: shielded metal arc, metal inert gas (MIG), pulsed MIG, tungsten-electrode inert gas (TIG) and Surface Tension Transfer® (STT®). The advanced module reduces burn-through and increases wire feed speed and cleaning compared to earlier products. STT is a controlled MIG short-circuit transfer process that uses current controls to adjust the heat independently of wire feed speed for good penetration, low heat input control and reduced spatter and fumes. With STT welding capability, the module can also help the welding of open root gaps with high-frequency inverter technology. Also, SST welding incorporates a high-frequency starting mode that can be controlled at the wire feeder or power source user interface. The careful use of high-frequency starting can improve the appearance of TIG welding arc starts and helps to reduce contamination caused by scratch start.

Lincoln Electric Co.
Cleveland, OH

Expanded Industrial Network Product Line

Rockwell Automation is expanding its Allen-Bradley Stratix family of industrial switches and routers, as well as new wireless and security products designed to meet industrial networking requirements. Expansions include the Stratix 5700 managed industrial Ethernet switch with embedded Network Address Translation (NAT) for simplified integration of IP-address mapping; Stratix 5900 services router to provide routing and security for Layer 2 or Layer 3 networks; and new fiber and power over Ethernet (PoE) options for the Stratix 5700, Stratix 8000 and Stratix 8300 switches. New products coming in early 2014 include the Allen-Bradley ArmorStratix 5700 switch with IP67 protection, and Stratix 5100 wireless (802.11N), dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz access point. The Stratix line uses the Cisco IOS to help ensure secure integration of business-critical services and support from operations to the enterprise. 

Rockwell Automation, Inc.
Milwaukee, WI

Smart Pressure Transmitter For Hazardous Environs

The 815PT Smart Pressure Transmitter from SOR is a stick form-factor smart pressure transmitter. Rated explosion-proof, the transmitter is suitable for hazardous locations and hostile environments. The 815PT’s circuiting is protected by a 316SS housing with 316SST and 17-4SST wetted-parts, and has hermetically sealed flying leads. In addition to such popular continuous outputs as 4-20 mA and 1-5 VDC, it also offers HART and Modbus RTU communications. As with most SOR products, the 815PT is custom-configured, built, calibrated and tested to customer specifications. The transmitter joins SOR’s 800 series of pressure devices, including the 805PT and 805QS.

SOR, Inc.
Lenexa, KS

Metric Plummer Block Bearing Assemblies

The new line of Timken® SNT plummer block housed bearing assemblies includes metric-sized plummer block designs with high-performance spherical roller bearings. Shaft sizes range from 20 mm to 400 mm, for straight or tapered shafts. The Timken SNT plummer block housed unit features cast-iron housings and four sealing options to meet application and environmental demands. Assembly design and finish are designed to lower operating temperatures and increase load-carrying capabilities compared to traditional spherical roller bearings. Housings can also be ordered in cast steel or ductile iron for extremely demanding applications.

The Timken Co.
Canton, OH