Inverter switch makes sound business sense
A
Mitsubishi Electric Automation Systems product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Nov 29, 2005
A plant modification at automotive mirror maker Flabeg in Birmingham to reduce noise has also lead to a 65% reduction in energy consumption, which will recoup the capital outlay in 12-14 months.
A plant modification at automotive mirror maker Flabeg in Birmingham to reduce noise has also lead to a 65% reduction in energy consumption, which will recoup the capital outlay in 12-14 months.
Flabeg, whose mirrors are fitted to most of the leading makes of car including BMW, Ford, Porsche, Toyota, VW, Jaguar, Nissan, and Audi, was a management buy out from Pilkington three years ago.
Its buys in plain flat glass and its process is, in short: chrome coating to create the reflective surface, bending to create the curved surface that provides a wide field of vision, cutting to shape, linishing the edges, thoroughly washing away the abrasive residue and finally drying with an air knife.
The air knife was incredibly noisy.
Some years ago it was enclosed to reduce the noise but it was still emitting 91dB(A), loud enough to make ear defenders obligatory.
"We wanted to get this down considerably and asked Mitsubishi Electric for ideas on how best achieves this", says Robert Leek of Flabeg.
"Their suggestion was to fit an inverter to slow down the fan, which would reduce the noise and had the attractive extra benefit of reducing power consumption".
The inverter chosen was Mitsubishi's brand new model the F700, launched literally weeks beforehand.
This has been developed specifically to improve energy saving performance compared with other inverters and is aimed primarily at pump and fan drives, where most energy saving potential is found, For Flabeg the F700's optimum excitation control provides improved motor efficiency during constant speed operations.
Ease of commissioning and tripless reliability were immediately attractive to Leek, while its predictive maintenance monitor means there is one less long term worry.
"With the F700 fitted there was an immediate cut in noise, down to 81dB(A)", says Leeks.
"This is a substantial reduction, best illustrated by the fact that operatives can now talk casually to each other rather that having to shout".
"We've still got them wearing ear defenders, but after a comprehensive acoustic survey expect to be able to dispense with them all together".
Initially Leek thought that the reduced airflow would mean he may have to increase the temperature of the air in order to maintain the drying effect.
However this did not prove to be the case, and so none of the energy saving has to be diverted for heating.
Flabeg has at least three other air knives on site where it will be replicating the success, and its sister plant in Germany also plans to follow the lead.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact Mitsubishi Electric Automation Systems
Related Stories
- Servo controllers synchronise high-speed switching
- Rhoss chiller unit utilises ABB AC drive
- Heason develops torque motors for Qinetiq's TAHS
- Biscuit factory installs IP65 SMV inverters
- DC drives reduce energy consumption
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (904)
- Machine Building (4,537)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,199)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (201)
- 3D CAD software (1,158)
- FEA and structural analysis software (371)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (918)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (197)
- Materials design and moulding design software (152)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (259)
- Electrical design software (165)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (318)
- Data, document management software (312)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (571)
- File conversion software, data capture (352)
- PLM and collaboration software (650)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,371)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (413)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,278)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (498)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,065)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,981)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,039)
- Plantwide control (1,330)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,178)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (807)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,476)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (631)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (711)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (441)
- Data loggers (423)
- Materials testing equipment (418)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (505)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,226)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,172)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (558)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (682)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (423)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (800)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (370)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,971)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,221)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (287)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,098)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (350)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (434)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (840)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (278)
-
Powertrain Design (3,620)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (947)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,445)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (428)
-
Capital Equipment (3,395)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (512)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,096)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (933)
-
Sensors (7,103)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (429)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (705)
- Pressure sensors (622)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (619)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (528)
- Linear Position Sensors (401)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (548)
- Proximity Sensors (704)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (285)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (153)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,386)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,636)
