Launch of a new I/O product

April 2001 Motion Control & Drives

A new product that offers a gateway solution in which the I/O modules are not bus specific but work with different bus systems, has been launched by Moeller Electric, of Kempton Park. Available at competitive prices, the new system, known as XI/ON, is ideal for controlling pressure or movement, recording temperatures or rotational speed and measuring current or voltage.

The product features pluggable electronic modules and fixed wiring with terminal blocks. The system offers high modularity and low granularity, two and four-channel digital output modules, one and two-channel analog modules. XI/ON accommodates Profibus-DP, but will in future be able to handle other Fieldbus systems such as DeviceNet, CANopen and Interbus-S. New bus technologies present no problem as the gateway is merely replaced, permitting the same I/O modules to be used.

The new system offers true flexibility, as the I/O modules are independent of the fieldbus. Applying or replacing I/O modules has never been easier, says Moeller. No tools are required as base modules are simply snapped onto a mounting rail and the electronic modules plugged onto the base modules. Field wiring is connected either by using screw or tension clamp connections.

The compact design of the new modules is space-saving. The slice design guarantees perfect modularity, providing exact conformity between the planned channel requirement and the actual number of I/O channels. The slice concept allows a wide range of combinations, guaranteeing the optimum number of connections. XI/ON is therefore cost-saving as the user purchases only what is actually required. XI/ON is then ready for operation and if an application requires special configuration and parameter settings, the interactive software, 'I/O Assistant', is quick, effective and reliable.

Moeller Electric

(011) 975 3937

[email protected]

www.moeller.co.za

Further reading:

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...

---

Mammoet supports critical heavy lift and marine activities for topsides
Motion Control & Drives
Mammoet provided specialised heavy lift and marine logistics support for the Munin topsides on Aker BP’s Yggdrasil North Sea development, including a complex transshipment operation and a tidal-window load-out classified as a Class 1 operation.

Read more...

---