MU_2018_JulyAugust-HR

60 MACHINERY UPDATE JULY/AUGUST 2018 www.machineryupdate.co.uk
Feature: Automation, robotics and vision
Technology is for
life, so Lenze says
choose carefully
Application manager
at Lenze Mark Turner
believes machine
builders and equipment
operators need to
consider the implications of their
technology choices over the full
lifecycle of their machines.
“Motors, actuators and control
systems are the frontline workers of
advanced industrial automation,”
he says, “and the right choice
of technologies can determine
the success or failure of a machine.”
But as customers demand higher
productivity, greater flexibility and
lower overall costs, hardware and
software specifications are only
part of the story.
Here are some key questions to
ask when selecting an automation
technology partner.
1. Can you support me through
the full project lifecycle?
Does your chosen provider have
the capabilities and willingness
to work alongside you through the
complete project, from initial idea
to in-service support? Much of the
ultimate performance – and cost –
of a machine is determined at the
concept stage, for example.
The best providers are happy
to sit down with their customers
and work with them to identify
opportunities to maximise
value. They can bring ideas and
suggestions to every aspect of
an automation project, from
the small details that make a
decisive difference to operating
performance and efficiency, to
the development of entirely new
machine designs.
2. Can you offer the right
technology for my application?
Is the technology on offer the
right one for your application?
System providers may want you
to use technologies that earn them
more, but sometimes the simplest
appropriate solution is the best.
Take servo drives as an example.
They work brilliantly in highly
dynamic, high speed motion
applications. But the increasing
Is your kit
up to it...?
Automation
systems today
need to be fast,
agile and, above
all, available
capability of conventional motors
and drives makes them the right
choice for a large number of motion
applications, at significantly lower
cost. High frequency 80 or 120Hz
motors and drives, for example,
offer a speed range up to five times
wider than 60Hz units. Modern
drives also have sophisticated
built-in control capabilities.
3. Can you provide a robust,
easy-to-use development
environment?
Does your chosen provider
leave you to navigate software
development unaided, or can
it provide application-focussed
tools and templates that mean
you don’t have to waste time
reinventing the wheel?
Machines are becoming
smarter and more complex, but
users want simple operation
While every machine is different,
most rely on a combination of
common functions, from feeding,
unwinding and sealing on
packaging lines to robot control.
The best automation
development environments provide
ready-made and tested modules
that handle these kinds of basic
machine functions.
4. Are you going to be ready
for Industry 4.0?
The Industrial Internet of Things is
already reshaping manufacturing.
Advanced communication and
analytical technologies create
opportunities for end users and
machine builders alike, but for
maximum effectiveness, those
technologies need to be built into
machines, not bolted on.
5. Can you deliver?
You need to be sure your provider
has the manufacturing and
distribution capabilities to meet
your timescales.
T 01234 753200
W www.lenze.com