Rockwell Automation has invested $40m in a new building at its global drives headquarters in Wisconsin, US. More than half of the 12,000m2 area has been allocated to test and development laboratories that will play a key role in developing a new family of variable speed AC drives due make its debut later this year.

The site, at Mequoun, about 30km north of Milwaukee, now employs more than 1,000 people and has a total floorspace of 53,000m2. "We`ve strategically aligned our resources under one roof, from conception to industrialisation," explains Bob Eisenbrown, vice-president in charge of Rockwell`s drives business.

The new drives family will span ratings from less than 1kW to medium voltage systems. The first product will be at the MV end of the spectrum and is due to be launched at Rockwell`s annual Automation Fair, in California in December.

Rockwell`s new laboratories include facilities for component analysis, software development, dynamometer measurements and communications work.

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