Electricity and Control September 2021

DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Meeting the needs of the F&B industry

supply module to feed maximum of 40 A. The protection modules can be mounted side by side. This is done via a simple clip mechanism, without any bridges, jumpers or the like. Potential modules are used to distribute the circuits and wire the ground lead. Easy mounting and mini- mised wiring complexity save costs and time. With the standard version the user can connect up to 10 and with the IO-Link version up to 8 safety modules to the head module. In addition to the triggering mechanism, the modules feature an LED which signals if the module has triggered, if it is active and to what extent it is used. Each channel can be activated, deactivated, or set via a pushbutton. The feed module has an additional collective output to provide a warning signal if a module has triggered. For more information contact ifm South Africa. Tel: +27 (0)12 450 0400 E-mail: info.za@ifm.com, visit: www.ifm.com society and our daily lives. Population growth alone is fuelling its rapid expansion. Hence there is a market requirement for a robust, reliable and industry- specific supplier. There are over 1 800 food production companies in South Africa and this is a major industry for BI,” van Vuuren comments. The company aims to be a supplier of choice for the sector, differentiated by quality service and products. “We strive to service our customers with products ranging from the most common to specially engineered solutions; we aim to be ‘always there making it work’. With our extensive footprint countrywide, we are able to reach all role-players in this sector on an ongoing basis to ensure that our offering of quality, value-driven, cost-effective and sustainable products and solutions remains relevant,” he says. “We are always looking to improve, offering low- maintenance solutions, for example, andupgraded sealing arrangements. We are also looking to develop and supply sealed motorised drives for ease of use and durability as a bolt-on solution that requires no modifications,” van Vuuren adds. He emphasises the need for regular and proactive maintenance in the food and beverage industry. “In this market segment in particular, an alternative to the ‘run to fail’ concept adopted by many other industries is needed. Well-managed maintenance schedules, and assistance from BI, will ensure more reliable, sustainable solutions, more uptime and a reliable supply to end- users,” van Vuuren says. For more information contact BI. Tel: +27 (0)11 899 0000 Email: info@bearings.co.za, visit: www.bearings.co.za

In the food and beverage industry, keeping the balance of priorities and requirements, customers need dependable low- and no-maintenance (sealed for life), cost-effective food-grade solutions that can withstand the rigours of corrosive, acidic, wet and excessively hot environments, with a focus on hygiene and food safety standards. Leading supplier Bearings International (BI) has a range of bearing and power transmission solutions for companies involved in food and beveragemanufacturing, production, packaging, processing and distribution, including OEMs, says Market Segment Development Leader Hennie van Vuuren. Where lubrication takes place, certified food-safe solutions are a necessity. Added to this requirement, and due to the nature of the application, solutions also have to have specialised sealing arrangements that are effective and can withstand being purged without damage. “Meeting these demanding requirements is a high priority for BI,” says van Vuuren. “We are well-positioned to service our customers with world-renowned brands that are known to meet these performance requirements in such a challenging environment.” BI covers an extensive range of products and brands specifically for this sector. These include bearings and seals (FAG, Cooper, Koyo, Rexnord, Link-Belt, Craft and Dodge), power transmission products (Bauer, Dodge, Imak), linear motion products (INA), flat-top, stainless steel and plastic chains (Rex, MCC and Marbett), couplings and drives (Mayr, Jaure, Tschan, Motordrive), electric motors (Alpha Drive and ABB) and variable speed drives (V-Drive and Yaskawa). “The food and beverage industry is a mainstay of Unlike on the 230 V primary side, circuit protection in the secondary circuit is often neglected. Another concern is that in the event of a failure of the 24 V dc voltage sup- ply, standard mechanical circuit breakers often do not trigger. This can happen with long cables, for example. Electronic circuit breakers from ifm monitor the circuit and, if required, disconnect reliably. Individual branch circuits can be disconnected selectively. This allows for a reduction of wire cross-sections in the load circuit of the switched-mode power supplies. On the new adjustable protection modules, the tripping current can be set, al- lowing for optimum adaptation of a plant’s circuits to the machinery. With the optional potential modules, the fuse block can be expanded into an intelligent wiring system. The IO-Link version also enables the cause of the trigger to be detected; it tracks current and voltage measure- ment in each channel and provides for evaluation of im- portant diagnostic data. Circuit protection for safety on the 24 V side

Among other power transmission products BI supplies motors from ABB.

The electronic circuit breakers

monitor the 24 V circuit and, if required, disconnect reliably.

Modular installation The system has a modular structure and consists of a

Electricity + Control SEPTEMBER 2021

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