Product category:
Engineering Industry Reports and Surveys
News Release from: IMS Research
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 10 January 2003
Servos to become more intelligent
Users of servo motion systems are increasingly using intelligent servo drives with integrated position control capability, says a new report.
Users of servo motion systems are increasingly using intelligent servo drives with integrated position control capability IMS Research's most recent automation survey confirms the trend that companies are moving to more decentralised control solutions that use intelligent field devices
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 28 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Of companies that purchase servo motion systems, some 53.6% said that drives with integrated position control functionality would be used in their automation systems within three years.
Easy setup and high performance capabilities are the main drivers for growth in this market.
Machine builders find intelligent servo drives a better solution for developing and building modular motion control systems.
However, this will not spell the end for "dumb" servo drive products.
The trend towards decentralised control with intelligent drives is gradual and ongoing, and a significant proportion of the servo drive market will continue to be accounted for by drives that do not have integrated position control capabilities.
Further results from the survey show that servomotors with integrated drive and position control electronics are also set to experience significant growth.
Over a third of the companies surveyed expected to purchase these products within three years.
Servo motors with integrated drive and position control are the extreme in a decentralised control architecture and can offer cost savings, simplified wiring and reduced control cabinet size when compared to using a separate motor, drive and controller.
IMS Research analyst Tim Dawson points out, "Whilst rapid growth is forecast for servo motors with integrated drive and position control, these products currently account for less than 2% of the total European servo motors market".
Dawson continues, "Even with the predicted high market growth, it will continue to remain a relatively small market".
Although fundamentally this is the case, servomotors with integrated drive and position control can only help to enhance the trend towards decentralised control system solutions.
(This was Engineeringtalk's Top Story on 9 January 2003).
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