A controls system of the type installed by engineers at Westin Drives

Controls system from Westin Drives

If you are a machine builder with a requirement for a controls system, or you're an end user of the machine with a requirement for upgraded controls, our technical engineers at Westin Drives can help. From initial concept to final installation and test, we can help to design and implement a control system to suit your needs.

With the use of modern PLC's, motion and variable speed drives, there are few limitations to what is possible. Our preferred automation partner is LENZE, enabling us to offer the complete drive-train, motor shaft connection right back to the drive and safe control.

CONTROLS SYSTEM CASE STUDY: Test rig retrofit at a global wind farm gearbox manufacturer

A control system installed at a Huddersfield-based gearbox repair company.

This project, carried out by Westin Drives for a Huddersfield-based gearbox repairer owned by the Moventas Group, yielded substantial energy savings, increased quality control and safety – and customer satisfaction.

The scope of the project included energy saving, improving the quality of test and improving the image of the test bed.

Original equipment onsite included a variable voltage DC rectifier driven system which was noisy, arced on switch off and stood out as old-fashioned in the modern workshop. It was replaced by a state-of-the-art control system involving a WEG CFW11 heavy duty 75kW AC drive with safe-torque-off technology, and premium efficiency IE3 motor among many other control components.

WEG was preferred by the customer as there was another WEG test rig on site which has proved reliable and efficient. Although the price was similar to that of competitors, WEG offers a three-year warranty rather than the more common industry standard of one year.

During preliminary inspections, a saving of £1,700 of electricity per year has been calculated with the new system on standby alone. After the job was completed, the factory’s Production Leader, Wind Service, wrote to us to express his satisfaction:

“Firstly I would like to thank Westin Drives for a trouble-free project from start to finish. Moventas had to bring the project forward two weeks because of a re-scheduled customer delivery.

"This was not a problem for Westins who completed the project two weeks earlier than the original plan. A great set of lads and work ethic by all involved. Health and Safety was at a high standard by all involved and quality and design and installation quality were to a very high standard. We now have:

Quicker set up times – reduced by 50 per cent.
More accurate testing – rpm, power and torque measurement.
Increased speed range, lower and higher, than original, allowing a wider range of gearboxes to be tested on this rig.
An excellent price, including three-year warranty.
Energy saving of £1,700 a year due to the old DC test rig – on standby alone.

“The old DC system, apart from being very inefficient and noisy, did not allow us to sense certain potential defects on test easily. Finally, modern equipment always looks good to new customers.”