Capital Equipment News August 2019

TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP – HIGH VOLTAGE MOTORS

A high voltage WEG mill drive motor in operation at a mine in South Africa.

Understanding the total cost of HV motor ownership When it comes to procurement of High Voltage (HV) motors, few end users ever think about the bigger picture – total cost of ownership. In fact, many still don’t understand what it costs to operate this type of equipment. While the spotlight is largely cast on the upfront capital cost, the fact of the matter is that purchase price is a very small factor in the overall cost of HV motor ownership. By Munesu Shoko.

I n a world where the sticker price is a key influencer in many procurement deci- sions, David Spohr, business development executive at Zest WEG Group, reasons that it is completely a different scenario when it comes to HV motors. According to Spohr, total cost of ownership (TCO) should be the principal consideration, and two key factors – efficiency and maintenance costs – are crucial parameters in the TCO equation. To help operators of HV motors in Africa run efficiently and profitably, Zest WEG Group has established a dedicated HV equipment division which specifically looks after its HV motors, medium voltage variable speed drives (VSDs) and power transformers. The division has been operational for the past four months and is led by Spohr, who has a wealth of experience in this market sector. In Africa, HV in motors is considered to be 3,3 kV; 6,6 kV and 11 kV. Globally, they get to a maximum of 13,8 kV, which is uncommon in Africa. WEG’s HV motors are typically

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