In the second largest sub-Saharan Africa installation of the latest range of Allen-Bradley variable speed drives (VSDs), Rockwell Automation supplied the Mashonaland Tobacco Company (MTC) in Zimbabwe with just under 300 PowerFlex AC 753 VSDs of varying sizes.
The 400 V, three-phase drives formed part of the automation upgrade of MTC’s newly reopened plant in Harare, following the recovery of the Zimbabwean tobacco industry. A major benefit of the new generation VSDs that MTC picked up shortly after the installation was that the power factor correction bank on the input of the plant did not need to be activated as often.
“This reduction is due to the inherent power factor correction of an AC VSD, and the improved speed control on the process. As a result, MTC envisages sizeable energy and cost savings over the long-term,” explains Colin Morris, Rockwell Automation branch manager, sub-Sahara Africa Export.
The robust, state-of-the-art Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 753 AC VSDs provide MTC with increased application flexibility, advanced diagnostics and reporting excellence by supplying real-time information, which aids troubleshooting and helps minimise downtime throughout the plant.
The first 98 of the AC drives were delivered to MTC within six weeks of Rockwell Automation receiving the order, and were fitted with input/output reactors and line chokes. Thanks to the user-friendly design of the VSDs, MTC was able to retrofit and commission them with minimal technical assistance from Mine Elect, Rockwell Automation’s Zimbabwean channel partner.
“MTC has a few existing Allen-Bradley 1336 Legacy drives in the plant, and has been impressed with their reliability, performance and longevity. When it came to choosing drives for this upgrade, our products were the automatic choice,” says Morris.
The company will be receiving training from Rockwell Automation for the long life ahead of the drives, and maintenance support from Mine Elect.
Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.
Read more...Groundbreaking renewable energy skills platform
News
South Africa’s renewable energy sector has taken a significant leap forward with the launch of PowerUp. A South African first, this online platform is designed to equip the country’s workforce with the skills required to meet industry demands.
Read more...Innomotics wins Platinum TITAN Brand Award for Best Corporate Rebranding
News
Innomotics has been awarded with the Platinum TITAN Brand Award for Best Corporate Rebranding. The international jury honoured Innomotics’ efforts to develop a powerful and recognisable brand after the carve-out of Innomotics from the Siemens Group in 2023.
Read more...Unlocking Africa’s hydrogen potential
News
Africa is positioning itself as a frontrunner in the global green energy revolution, with hydrogen emerging as a critical commodity of strategic and national importance across the continent. Namibia is putting ambition into action by having already reached a number of key milestones towards final investment decision on up to five projects.
Read more...Fuchs doubles sales volume
News
An aggressive growth strategy in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade has resulted in Fuchs Lubricants South Africa achieving a CAGR of 6% in volume sold since 2015. The result of this is that sales volume has nearly doubled in this time.
Read more...High-quality sensing and automation equipment
News
The Turck Banner Demo Van is showcasing the company’s latest products and solutions.Turck Banner sells directly to end users and OEMs in a broad range of industries and applications.
Read more...From ground to compound: the journey of crude oil Wearcheck
News
You’re in for a ‘crude awakening’ when you download WearCheck’s latest Technical Bulletin. You will be treated to an in-depth explanation of the processes of producing oil, fuel and other petrochemical wonders that power our modern lifestyle.
printer friendly version