Soft starter controls acceleration

April 2009 Motion Control & Drives

Starters are maturing as more sophisticated units perform soft start and stop functions with greater control, more protection and detailed feedback. The latest release from CHI Control Components, the AuCom EMX3 is more than a starter; it is a complete motor management system.

The EMX3 introduces a new generation in soft start technology: XLR-8, adaptive acceleration control. XLR-8 has an unprecedented level of control over a motor’s acceleration and deceleration profiles. Using XLR-8, the soft starter learns the motor’s performance during start and stop, then adjusts control to optimise performance.

The EMX3 is smart and dependable, with new design features for quick set-up and more customised control.

Easy to use

While soft starters are becoming increasing feature-rich, AuCom has taken steps to ensure that commissioning, operation and fault finding are still quick and easy. Quick setup mode gets machinery running in next to no time, and informative screens advise the operator on motor performance.

Compact and versatile

EMX3 Soft Starters are among the smallest in their class, saving installation costs by minimising panel space requirements. The design of the EMX3 allows for multiple units to be mounted side by side, or in a bank of starters due to the flexibility in cabling options. Internally bypassed starters further reduce the overall size of the soft starter.

The starter has been designed for maximum flexibility in a wide range of industries. Whether it needs to integrate into a network or respond to external signalling equipment, or there is a requirement for reliable motor protection, the EMX3 offers the features needed in a reliable product.

Applications

XLR-8 is ideal for low inertia loads such as pumps and conveyors, and can substantially reduce or eliminate the effects of water hammer. In addition to this the EMX3 is suitable for high inertia loads including circular saws and ball mills as XLR-8 allows precise control over the motor’s stopping time. It is also suitable for pumping (high head applications); compressors (optimised blade control); band saws (blade alignment) and irrigators (built-in timer).

For more information contact Rob Hare, CHI Control Components, +27 (0)11 824 7400, [email protected], www.chicontrol.co.za

Further reading:

Smarter motor technology for high-performance industrial automation
Adroit Technologies Motion Control & Drives
Adroit Technologies is bringing Mitsubishi Electric’s EM-A series permanent magnet motors to Africa, offering servo-like speed and position control at a lower cost by combining patented sensorless control with the FR-E800 inverter to eliminate encoders while achieving IE5 efficiency.

Read more...

---

A smarter approach to simplifying motion architecture
Motion Control & Drives
n motion system design, the wiring and drive placement between motor and drive are often decided by default, yet they shape a machine’s cost, footprint and adaptability. Kollmorgen sets out how single-cable and decentralised architectures simplify the cabinet.

Read more...

---

Robotic case packer achieves 99% uptime
Rockwell Automation Motion Control & Drives
DCC Automation designed a new robotic case packer for a nutrition supplement manufacturer using delta robots and a unified Rockwell Automation control platform, cutting changeover time from 45 minutes to 5 minutes, and achieving 99 to 99,5% uptime against the previous 10% per-shift downtime.

Read more...

---

igus puts 3D-printed wear materials to the test
igus Motion Control & Drives
A new igus white paper compares its tribological iglidur 3D-printing materials directly with conventional POM, reporting lower wear, more stable friction and up to ten times longer service life in gear testing for customised, low-volume and replacement components.

Read more...

---

SEW-EURODRIVE’s expanded local engineering capability
SEW-EURODRIVE Editor's Choice Motion Control & Drives
At Electra Mining Africa, SEW-EURODRIVE demonstrated how its expanded local engineering capability, digital technologies and lifecycle support strategy help customers improve reliability, energy efficiency and total cost of ownership across the full life of their drive assets.

Read more...

---

Latest Danfoss automation drive
Bearing Man Group t/a BMG Motion Control & Drives
BMG has launched the Danfoss iC7-Automation enclosed variable speed drive range in South Africa, backed by significant local stockholding of 400 V models up to 710 kW, approved warranty workshops, and DrivePro digital asset management support.

Read more...

---

Severe-duty workhorses powering mining
Motion Control & Drives
Mining machines such as rock crushers, pumps and conveyors need motors that combine high torque with robust enclosures, seals and cooling. WEG Africa explains how severe-duty motors deliver more than a decade of reliable performance in harsh conditions while meeting modern energy-efficiency standards.

Read more...

---

Looking beyond the spec sheet when choosing motion architecture
Motion Control & Drives
When machine builders focus only on torque, speed and price, engineering time, integration effort and long-term maintainability get overlooked. Kollmorgen explains how thinking at the system level, not the component level, leads to better motion architecture choices.

Read more...

---

Economy drive system closes the drive gap in the entry-level segment
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice Motion Control & Drives
Beckhoff has launched an economy drive system pairing its new AX1000 servo drive and AM1000 servomotor with the AF1000 dual-axis variable frequency drive on a shared EtherCAT platform, targeting series machines and price-sensitive markets without sacrificing TwinCAT integration or functional safety.

Read more...

---

SEW-EURODRIVE showcases modernisation and lifecycle support at Electra Mining Africa 2026
SEW-EURODRIVE Motion Control & Drives
At Electra Mining Africa 2026, SEW-EURODRIVE showed how it has expanded beyond equipment supply into integrated engineering solutions, plant modernisation and long-term lifecycle support for mining and industrial operators across Africa.

Read more...

---