Motion Control & Drives


Altivar drives in IP54 enclosures

April 2009 Motion Control & Drives

Schneider Electric scales up plug-and-play.

Users have come to expect plug-and-play in complex industrial control systems. Suppliers of variable speed drives have embraced this concept with drives’ ability to match themselves to connected motors. Now Schneider Electric is upping the ante by offering its Altivar drives fitted in fully equipped IP54 enclosures.

Altivar 71 Plus drives rated above 800 kW are available pre-assembled in enclosures with various cooling options
Altivar 71 Plus drives rated above 800 kW are available pre-assembled in enclosures with various cooling options

The ready-assembled VSD (variable speed drive) concept, which is available for 380–690 V, 3-phase asynchronous motors from 90 kW upwards, simplifies installation and ensures optimal ventilation for the Altivar drive: something that end-users do not always get right when equipping their own enclosures.

The enclosure assembly’s offer comprises: one or two ready-assembled enclosures, depending on the drive rating; a drive mounted on a heatsink; a switch and fast-acting fuses; harmonic reduction circuits; and an IP65 remote graphic display terminal kit.

Benefits and savings

In developing these kits, Schneider Electric has performed thermal and mechanical studies and the assemblies have been tested and approved under full load conditions. Users of these ready-assembled drive kits can be confident that their installed drive solution has been assembled from components that are well matched.

The Altivar 71Plus pre-assembled enclosures are built using a range of standard enclosure, drive, electrical and control components
The Altivar 71Plus pre-assembled enclosures are built using a range of standard enclosure, drive, electrical and control components

A significant benefit of this pre-engineered approach is the time savings that it yields: when quoting, ordering, installing and commissioning.

Electrical installation of these pre-assembled drives is limited to only the connection of power supply and motor cabling. The enclosures are sized and the components are laid out to provide generous space for these connections while keeping the drive footprint compact.

Altivar 71 Plus

Equipped with an Altivar 71 Plus VSD these assemblies can be used for constant torque control of motors rated up to 2000 kW for variable speed control of equipment such as fans, pumps, compressors and screw feeders.

There are several cooling alternatives for Altivar 71 Plus drives of 800 kW and above. Internal cooling circuits are either air or water cooled. Internal cooling isolates the fully enclosed power electronics section from the external cooling air via a heat exchanger, providing the best protection in a harsh environment. Alternatively an external heat exchanger system can be selected, reducing airconditioning costs by removing hot air from the motor control room.

Customisation possibilities

Schneider Electric offers various options for customising the ready-assembled drive modules. These include fieldbus cards for drive integration into automation systems, encoder interface cards, an emergency stop button, Preventa safety relay, panel-front meters, braking units, heating, cooling and lighting option choices.



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Mining’s decarbonisation journey starts now
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Mining companies are embedding decarbonisation into core operational strategies as technology, advisory services and digital platforms help translate ESG commitments into measurable environmental and business outcomes.

Read more...
Drive solutions helping refurbish the Elleringhausen Tunnel
Motion Control & Drives
RUD Ketten’s Tecdos Omega Drive chain drives are powering the specialised cutting assembly used to refurbish the 1,4 km Elleringhausen Tunnel in Germany, combining linear and radial motion in a configuration that performs reliably under constant wet-cutting conditions.

Read more...
Enhanced manufacturing expertise in large-dimension hydraulic cylinders
Motion Control & Drives
WEBER-HYDRAULIK has expanded its manufacturing capabilities to produce hydraulic cylinders with internal diameters of up to 300?mm, extending its portfolio into large-dimension ballast and support cylinders for demanding heavy machinery applications.

Read more...
High-performance linear guides
igus Motion Control & Drives
igus continues to expand its drylin range of lubrication-free polymer linear guides, including PFAS-free and EHEDG-certified variants for food safety applications. The tribo-optimised iglidur polymer technology eliminates maintenance while offering corrosion resistance and load capacity up to 600 kg.

Read more...
AI data centres, nature and innovation
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented demand for data centre capacity, with liquid cooling now central to managing the heat generated by high-density GPU clusters. Schneider Electric examines how next-generation data centres can balance performance with environmental responsibility.

Read more...
New motion platform for tube laser processing
Motion Control & Drives
Aerotech has announced the LaserTurn280, a motion platform for laser machining of cylindrical medical device components, offering calibrated accuracy of plus or minus 1 micrometre and designed for integration into high-volume production lines.

Read more...
Functional safety in modern factory automation
Motion Control & Drives
Functional safety in modern factory automation allows machines to operate at controlled speeds or hold axes at standstill rather than shutting down entirely. Kollmorgen’s Safe Motion monitor software now supports additional safety-rated encoder protocols, extending these capabilities to precision and linear motion applications.

Read more...
Decarbonising the energies and chemical industry without the risk
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric argues that decarbonisation in Africa’s energies and chemical industry need not compromise production or profitability. A phased, digitally enabled approach, starting with energy efficiency improvements, can reduce emissions while strengthening competitiveness.

Read more...
Improving material handling with autonomous mobile robots
Rockwell Automation Motion Control & Drives
Autonomous mobile robots offer flexible, AI-driven material handling that adapts to shifting demand, fills labour gaps, and generates the operational data needed to optimise end-to-end facility performance.

Read more...
Sinamics G210 versatile drive for continuous motion applications
Motion Control & Drives
Siemens has expanded its drive portfolio with the Sinamics G210, a versatile converter for continuous motion applications that combines motor openness with modular hardware, software options and flexible communication on a scalable OEM platform.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved