Optidrive P2 and E3 put through their paces to prove performance for Mexican overhead crane manufacturers

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Problem

The Sumitomo Drive Technologies team in Mexico wished to introduce overhead crane manufacturers to the performance benefits offered by VFD’s from Invertek Drives. They needed to convince these customers that Invertek variable frequency drives are more than capable of delivering the required levels of performance and safety in demanding lifting applications.

Solution

The team installed an Optidrive P2 with dedicated hoist mode, and a general purpose Optidrive E3 on a 10-ton crane at the factory in Monterrey and ran a series of tests to evaluate the performance of both drives.

Sumitomo Drive Technologies

Overhead crane hoist and gearmotor control

Many of the overhead crane manufacturers that Sumitomo Drive Technologies works with in Mexico use variable frequency drives (VFDs) in their machines.

The Challenge

Sumitomo Drive Technologies wished to introduce overhead crane manufacturers to the performance benefits offered by VFD’s from Invertek Drives. The main challenge was to demonstrate that the drives were robust enough for use in lifting heavy loads, to persuade the crane manufacturers to make Invertek Drives their preferred supplier. Invertek Drives was acquired by Sumitomo in 2019 and its VFD’s are now offered as part of Sumitomo’s motion control product portfolio around the world.

The Invertek Drives Solution

Sumitomo’s Mexican team ran a series of trials at the Sumitomo Drive Technologies factory in Monterrey on a 10-ton crane manufactured by Gruas Resemsa. The standard VFDs supplied with the crane were replaced with a high-performance Optidrive P2 including dedicated hoist mode, and a general purpose Optidrive E3 was installed to control the translation gearmotors. Tests were run using 5-ton, 9-ton, 10-ton and 13.8-ton loads at 100% load capacity.

Automation and Control Manager, Francisco Diaz, comments, “Historically, our customers have successfully used Sumitomo Paramax reducers for load lifting and Cyclo and/or Hyponic gearmotors for translation. With the integration of Invertek Drives into the Sumitomo Drive Technologies product portfolio, the Optidrive P2 in hoist mode offers an excellent alternative for brake and load control in lifting mechanisms, while the E3 provides a strong option for translation mechanisms.

“It was essential for us to fully understand both the application and lifting dynamics so we could be confident that Invertek Drives offer the required levels of performance and safety for our customers.”

The result

Both VFD’s proved themselves to be more than capable of delivering the required performance and have remained in daily operation at the plant following completion of the tests.

Test data from the Optidrive P2 confirmed that the load behaviour was optimal throughout both ascending and descending operations. It held the load without fluctuation during brake engagement and release, and successfully passed an incorrect operation simulation test which involved pressing the up and down buttons simultaneously.

“It was very easy to replace the previous VFDs with the Optidrives from Invertek,” continued Francisco. “Invertek VFDs include an integrated braking chopper circuit, whereas the other drives require an additional braking module – this increases space requirements and cost.

“Setting the parameters was simple and the Optistick Smart remote monitoring module allows our technical personnel to monitor the VFDs’ performance safely from ground level and make adjustments without the need to work at height – this saves time and improves safety.

“We are confident that our OEM customers will appreciate the many benefits offered by Invertek VFDs for crane applications.”