Industrial Automation Drives & Controls

Industrial automation drives and controls are essential components of modern industrial systems. They deliver the necessary energy, regulation, and security for a broad selection of operations. Industrial drives convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, while PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) automate various processes within an industrial system.

Depending on the application requirements, drives and PLCs can be combined in different ways. A drive is typically used when speed or torque needs to be controlled, while a PLC is more suited for controlling complex sequences of events, such as in robotic applications. In some cases, both may be needed together to achieve optimal performance from an automated system.

Many industrial control systems exist, each tailored to a particular purpose. These include: relay-based controllers that use electromechanical relays or contactors; analog controllers utilize analog signals such as voltage or current; digital controllers utilizing digital signals like binary codes; hybrid controllers combining both analog and digital technologies; distributed control systems (DCS) consist of multiple nodes connected over a network to communicate with each other; motion controllers coordinating multiple axes movements simultaneously and vision systems incorporating cameras for object recognition purposes.

There are several different types of industrial drives available, depending on the application, including: Variable Frequency Inverters (VFIs), Adjustable Speed Drive Inverters (ASDs), Direct Current Choppers (DCCHs), Alternating Current Choppers (ACCHs), Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (PMSMs), Induction Machines (IMS) and Switched Reluctance Machines (SRMs).