Improved performance.

A new range of slitting and rewinding machines has been launched by Ashe Converting Equipment of Ipswich. The benefits of the new range are however attributable to the choice of drives--Unidrive SP AC drives from Control Techniques.

Ashe's design engineer, Chris Plant explained: "Control Techniques demonstrated that Unidrive SP could give us sensorless torque control from zero speed, considerable onboard programming and profibus comms plus servo mode--all in one drive."

Each Unidrive SP AC drive was fitted with an SM programmable applications module and a SM-Profibus-DP module that gives Profibus networking. These comprises a 7.5 kW vacuum drive roller, another feature that controls the speed and length of the material and two 5.5kW rewind that can operate in either torque or speed control, using the standard Control Techniques rewind program.

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