New system to reduce lifecycle costs of operating paper machine

March 2003 Motion Control & Drives

ABB, a leading power and automation technology group, will supply an industrial IT direct drive system for Sappi Kraft's No. 4 paper machine at its Tugela Mill in KwaZulu-Natal. The system represents new direct drive technology, which is becoming the industry standard in drive systems.

The contract, valued at nearly R26 million includes the delivery of 24 drive sections, 17 permanent magnet motors and seven standard asynchronous motors without gearboxes, as well as application software and all related services such as cabling, installation, commissioning and training.

"ABB's direct drive will enable Sappi to reduce the total lifecycle costs of operating the paper machine," says Urs Leuenberger, technical director, Automation Technologies division, ABB South Africa. "The unique solution reduces mechanical component in the paper machine drive, thereby simplifying it and giving it improved running efficiency and cost of ownership."

The solution is based on the new permanent magnet motors, frequency converters and application software. The drive system uses direct drive philosophy, which encompasses the use of permanent magnet motor technology to provide good torque at low speeds to eliminate the need for gearboxes. Direct Drive technology improves machine running, lowers energy consumption and reduces planning, installation and maintenance costs. The first direct drive solutions were introduced in Finland.

ABB in Southern Africa employs 3000 people and has operations in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. ABB South Africa manufactures and supplies power and automation technology products and specialises in electricity infrastructure and industrial automation projects.

ABB ( www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impacts. The ABB group of companies operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 146 000 people.

For more information contact Mark Chan Yan, ABB South Africa, 011 617 2175, [email protected], www.abb.com/automation

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