Welsh drives-maker plans to double its capacity
At the recent SPS/IPC/drives show in Germany, the Welsh drives-maker Invertek unveiled two new ranges and revealed plans to more than double its production capacity to 250,000 drives a year.
In the year to September 2010, Invertek’s sales grew by 54% and it is forecasting a further 30% of growth for the coming year. Part of this growth will come from Invertek’s new ranges: a high-performance AC drive, called Optidrive P2, for permanent magnet (PM) and standard induction motors up to 160kW; and an IP55-protected fan and pump drive for the HVAC market. Both ranges sport high-contrast OLED displays with wide viewing angles.
The P2 range provides open-loop vector control of induction motors, as well as closed-loop control of induction motors and open- and closed-loop control of high-efficiency PM motors. It spans ratings from 0.75–160kW, 200–480V, single- and three-phase, in six sizes. It incorporates RFI filters and pluggable control terminals, and accepts plug-in expansion modules for communications, feedback and addition I/O and relays. It is available in IP66 versions up to 7.5kW, IP20 to 11kW and IP55 to 160kW.
The HVAC range (above) covers similar ratings and incorporates dedicated fan and pump functions such as pump cascade control, broken belt detection, energy monitoring and optimisation, resonance avoidance and noise reduction, pump blockage detection and clearance, dry running protection, a motor preheat function, and a pump sleep mode with auto-boost. For emergencies, it also offers a fire over-ride mode and a stairwell pressurisation function.
Rhydian Welson, Invertek’s sales and marketing director, reports that the company is now has about 130 employees, compared to 70 a year ago. It hopes to expand into a 4,500m2 factory extension in early 2012, taking its annual production capacity from 110,000 drives to around 250,000. It is also looking at setting up a manufacturing facility in China to serve the local market. About 90% of Invertek’s business come from exports.
For more news from the SPS/IPC/Drives Show, see our detailed report.
