Visit the Lenze web site

Drives handle ale efficiently

A Lenze product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 6, 2007

Three axes of Lenze 9300 drives are used to position the casks and remove the plugs, known as the keystone and the shive.

Microdat.co.uk of Leeds hasdeveloped a cask handling line which uses inverter and servo drive technology from Lenze, increasing output typically by over 100%.

The design means a lighter workload for operators and reduced noise levels, leading to a better working environment and saving energy.

A recently completed cask line contract was part of a GBP 5m investment at the Black Sheep brewery in Masham, Yorkshire, which included handling, washing and filling machinery.

Three axes of Lenze 9300 drives are used to position the casks and remove the plugs, known as the keystone and the shive.

Irregular cask shapes and variable keystone dimensions require a laser vision system and precise positioning.

Transport of the casks and subsequent positioning for washing and filling is also done using Lenze 9300 servos for smooth and quiet handling.

At the filling stations, Microdat use peristaltic pumps driven by a Lenze geared motors and Motec IP65 inverters.

This is a major financial benefit as they give an exact metered fill, reducing wastage and consequently the duty to be paid by the brewery.

Filling is done with a backpressure of sterile air to prevent fobbing, at the same time recycling the sterile air into a buffer tank.

The conveyors taking the casks to the pick and place unit prior to palletising are all powered by Lenze geared motors with Motec terminal box inverters to ensure the motors run efficiently at reduced speeds.

Steve Midgley, the Managing Director of Microdat is proud of the green credentials of his cask line.

"The variable speed drives themselves are energy efficient and can make major savings compared to fixed speed or mechanical variator drives".

"The drives also qualify for tax rebates under the governments ECA (enhanced capital allowance) scheme".

"All the Lenze inverters and servos are listed".

Find out more about this article. Request a brochure, download technical specifications and request samples here.

Not what you're looking for? Search the site.

Back to top Back to top

Contact Lenze

Tel +44 1234 321200

Other Lenze stories

Newsletter sign up

Request your free weekly copy of the Engineeringtalk email newsletter ...

Visit the Lenze web site

Browse by category

All suppliers A - Z

A Pro-talk Publication

A Pro-talk publication