Drives and motors literally keep industry moving and current developments are more geared towards energy saving and digitalisation than ever before. The Engineer questioned three experts about the trends driving innovations.DH; Wherever there is a motor-driven application there is usually an opportunity to use motors and variable speed drives (VSDs). There are some 750 million motors in industry, globally, and yet, even though electric motors account for nearly 40% of all industrial energy consumed, there are fewer than 20 percent of the installed base fitted with VSDs. Greater than 50% of industrial motors would benefit from energy savings by operating with variable speed. While a key focus remains energy saving, particularly now that we have net zero targets on the horizon, VSDs can have a massive impact on improving productivity and OEE. The sectors at the forefront of motors and VSDs use in the UK remain building services (HVAC), food & beverage and water, but every industry from aggregates to chemicals to data centres, are targets.
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