Weg complements motor and drive growth

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 1, 2006

Launch of new LV switch and control gear products provides panel builders and OEMs with a competitive, single source supply for all their LV motor control and protection requirements.

Weg's launch of new LV switch and control gear products provides panel builders and OEMs with a competitive, reliable and readily available single source supply for all their LV motor control and protection requirements.

The new LV range complements Weg's motors and drives; it is comprehensive, including contactors and thermal relays, motor circuit breakers, DOL and manual motor starters, timers and pushbuttons.

Weg has invested over 3 million US dollars in building and equipping its own state-of-the-art RandD facility and has worked closely with Brazilian and German universities to develop its LV range of products.

The result of this co-operation is a range of products that are technically advanced, competitively priced, and offer the highest degree of reliability under the most demanding operating conditions.

In addition, all the product lines are manufactured and tested in accordance with internationally recognised standards: IEC/EN 60947, DIN/VDE 0660 and UL/CSA.

Designed to control and protect electric motors up to 370kW/400V, the Weg LV range includes CWC mini-contactors (rated for16amps AC-3 service); CWM contactors, RW.D thermal overload relays and accessories, which are rated for operation up to 700amps AC-3; Star-Delta starters and MPW25 motor protective circuit breakers.

Complementing these products are D.O.L.

Starters, with IP55 degree of protection, for motors up to 18.5kW/400v; and the CSW line of push button and signalling products, which offers users a "Quick Fix System" for fast mounting, and industry-standard 22mm cut-outs.

Exemplifying Weg's design approach with the new range is the CWC line of mini-contactors.

Employing FEA-based electromagnetic and mechanical analysis software, it has been possible to optimise the size of the CWC mini-contactors, and yet still achieve superior levels of performance.

As a result, the CWC line offers users the benefits of reduced dimensions for its current rating: up to 16A at AC-3 service duty; hence, it consumes less space inside control enclosures.

In addition, keeping the same dimensions for both AC and DC control makes designs and assemblies much easier.

Also benefiting the OEM and panel builder is the ease of mounting of the CWC units on rails without any special tools; their high insulation voltage (690V); high reliability contacts and ability to be employed at AC-4.

In addition, the reduced heat generated by the CWC units, and also the fact that the coils are low wattage types, allows them to be directly operated from a PLC without interface relays.

The CWC line offers a complete line of accessories for quick mounting.

These include: Auxiliary contact blocks; Mechanical interlocks; Mechanical retaining blocks; Surge suppressors and Timers, which are just 9mm wide.

Complementing the CWC Line in the area of motor control and switchgear, is Weg's MPW25 motor-breaker, a product integrating the latest developments in technology for low voltage electromechanical devices.

These developments have allowed Weg to design components with a higher number of incorporated functions, allowing more compact configurations in electric motor installations.

The MPW25 provides high interruption capacity, which allows it to be used on installations with large number of short-circuit currents.

In addition, the incorporated thermal and magnetic triggers ensure full protection of the electric circuit and the connected motor.

Completing Weg's LV range is the CSW Series of push button and signalling products.

These offer users the benefits of modern ergonomic design, a comprehensive range of operating heads and contact blocks, IP65 protection and the Quick Fix System for easy mounting.

Employing the Quick Fix System, mounting of the contact blocks on the push button, selector switch, emergency stop switch or signalling device, is achieved via a snap-on flange, which ensures fast fitting.

In addition, the innovative mechanical design of the flange allows its fast removal without the use of tools.