SKF has announced that a single bus using the new SKF bus door actuator, a BeyondZero portfolio product, saves 1,9 tons of carbon dioxide per year when compared to a bus using pressurised air. This figure is valid for one city bus, diesel hybrid with six doors (one actuator per door).
“The actuator requires 80 to 90% less energy than a pneumatic system does and because of this, the compressor system size can be reduced to require smaller engines,” says Richard Klausen, general manager of SKF actuation systems. “These two benefits produce almost a 3% improvement in the fuel economy. There are a few examples available of electromechanical solutions being used for bus doors, but, as far as we know, this is the first one that lives up to all the specifications.”
SKF partnered with a customer in the automotive market to develop an alternative to pneumatic door-opening systems that would be more reliable and require less energy. The resulting solution is an actuator which integrates electrical and mechanical elements to control the door’s speed and position.
SKF bus door actuators increase bus availability because they are driven by electric motors and do not require air pressure like pneumatic systems. Additionally, due to their controlled motion, there is significantly less wear of mechanical parts; installation is a simple drop-in replacement. The robust construction, and integrated electronics and software, deliver repeatable function regardless of temperature, load or wear variations.
More movement on the market
Motion Control & Drives
If you want to move something, you have to be able to control the movement. When positioning in the nanometre range everything matters and requires high performance motion control. Six years ago, Aerotech therefore set itself the goal of revolutionising the market for precision motion and machine control systems.
Read more...Highly customisable robotic hand
Motion Control & Drives
NSK and the German Aerospace Centre are developing a robotic hand system that will help automate manual tasks. The concept centres on a customisable robot hand comprising individually configurable finger modules, an industry first.
Read more...Electrically-operated diaphragm pumping solutions Bearing Man Group t/a BMG
Motion Control & Drives
BMG has extended its range of Ingersoll Rand ARO fluid handling products to include the new EVO series electric diaphragm pumps, designed to enhance energy efficiency and improve fluid handling productivity.
Read more...Grease degradation diagnosis technology
Motion Control & Drives
NSK is developing a world-first: a high-accuracy way of rapidly and accurately diagnosing the remaining life of lubricant grease. The company will provide the solution as a mobile app, enabling users to perform the onsite analysis of lubricant condition in bearings and linear motion systems.
Read more...New compact VFDs with higher power ratings
Motion Control & Drives
Invertek Drives has revealed the extension of its industry-leading Optidrive Coolvert variable frequency drive with the launch of two new compact frame sizes with higher power ratings.
Read more...Automated equipment monitoring SKF South Africa
Industrial Wireless
When it comes to product design, engineering and development, SKF has always opted for a multi-faceted approach. Ticking all these boxes is the new SKF Axios; a simple, scalable, cost-effective, and cloud-based end-to-end predictive maintenance solution for rotating equipment, from SKF and Amazon Web Services.
Read more...Revolutionising manufacturing: the impact of machine learning in robotics
Motion Control & Drives
The integration of machine learning (ML) into robotics has the potential to revolutionise many industries, in particular the manufacturing sector. Yaskawa South Africa is at the forefront of embracing this transformative technology to optimise innovation and propel the manufacturing industry forward.
Read more...Chain hoist friction clutch tester WIKA Instruments
Motion Control & Drives
WIKA’s FRKPS chain hoist test set is a reliable and efficient way to test the friction clutch on your chain hoist.