Electricity and Control November 2022

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Setting a new standard for jib crane cable guides

Trendsetting crane manufacturer, Stahl Cranes and Hoists in Vereeniging, is changing its jib crane cable management systems from the old system of festoons and pulleys to reliable and snag-free energy chain sys tems from specialist supplier, igus. Manufactured from engineered polymers the energy chains are mechanical machine elements that guide and protect data and power cables needed to operate the crane. Rather than the cables being exposed and hanging from the festoon system, the energy chains se cure the cables within the chain and provide the required movement without damaging the cables. Stahl Cranes and Hoists Sales Manager Marius Ferreira says the latest crane manufactured and supplied to SEW Eurodrive’s Gauteng factory, is supplied with an energy chain system from igus. Its ease of installation on the crane and lack of rotating moving parts make for a less complicated system with fewer structural attachments, clamps and weld points. Abrasion resistant energy chains The three-ton monorail system is used in the company’s parts wash bay for the cleaning of equipment from its customers’ sites around the country. This means the po tential for dirt and ingress is significantly higher than in the usual applications and the use of abrasion-resistant polymers ensures that the cable and energy chain do not wear. Compared to a trolley system on a festoon, there are far fewer moving parts, no lubrication is required, and the energy chain system is less likely to be damaged by accident, which is a vulnerability of the older method. “With the introduction of igus energy chains on our cranes there is no reason to return to the old festoon systems. Data gathered from our cranes using energy chains indicates that they are considerably more reliable, need almost no maintenance, do not use lubricants and most importantly, keep the cables out of harm’s way. “With igus’ Chainflex cables which are specially designed to bend and flex, the energy chain and cables

Stahl Cranes and Hoists is choosing to use igus energy chains on its crane systems. should last the lifetime of the crane, with just routine maintenance. Growing demand for igus’ energy chains has led to keener pricing and they are considered more cost effective over the lifespan of the system,” says Ferreira. Engineered polymers Managing Director of igus in South Africa, Ian Hewat, says the success of igus’ systems lies in the engineered polymer materials used, which he says simply cannot be matched. igumid G, a high-performance plastic that incorporates various characteristics for different environ ments, can handle strenuous loads and extreme tem peratures. It is also abrasion-resistant and suitable for outdoor use. A range of other materials are available for even extreme or unusual applications. “We supply our energy chains for applications as diverse as heavy port cranes, mining machines, industrial machines and 3D printers and robotics. Whatever the size or application, we can produce energy chains that are fit for purpose and able to outlast and outperform just about everything available in the market today. “With ongoing research and development at the com pany’s headquarters in Germany and plants around the globe, igus continues to innovate and develop solutions and materials for almost any application,” Hewat says. For more information contact igus South Africa. Tel: (011) 312 1848 Email: ihewat@igus.net, visit: www.igus.co.za nent in the broader scope of SCADA (supervisory con trol and data acquisition) systems and propels the appli cation of the Industrial Internet of Things – IIoT – across multiple sectors. Chili explains that HMI software works as a commu nication link or platform between the people responsible for operating machines and the system, to oversee and control operations. Variants of HMI also transform data from industrial control systems into visual depictions of the systems, which can be interpreted by people for their clearer understanding of the equipment, and analysis. HMI enables employees to operate complicated Continued on page 7

HMI and PLC are core to automation advances

Automation has become synony mous with industry, whether it is in the automotive or food and beverage industry, and has changed the way most industry sectors operate today.

Together with HMIs, PLCs, which store and execute logical sequencing processes, are fundamental to automation and control systems.

Sbo Chili, Product Manager: EcoStruxure – IDHMI & IDMST at Schneider Electric, highlights that human machine interface (HMI) technologies and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are fundamental to industrial automation and have become an integral part of automation systems. HMI incorporates the software facilitating human and machine interaction, which makes it a critical compo

6 Electricity + Control NOVEMBER 2022