As more businesses automate their production processes to achieve higher productivity, there can be many unknowns in navigating the transition. SEW-EURODRIVE, well-known for its drive technology, also offers a broader suite of solutions in Maxolution® and works with customers to avoid the obstacles in transitioning to automation and to implement automation projects for plants, factories and warehouses, using its proven solutions.
SEW-EURODRIVE's condition monitoring solution – DriveRadar – can form part of the solution.
According to Werner Engelbrecht, Works Manager Mechatronics at SEW-EURODRIVE, the design and implementation of automation projects is focused on combining all aspects of production including hardware and software. Rather than a customer having to develop their own software infrastructure from scratch, says Engelbrecht, Maxolution® has its own pre-defined application modules that have been developed from years of experience in the field.
“With our specialised software, we can simulate material flow in industrial systems, helping customers to achieve greater efficiency through the integrations of multiple systems,” he says. “The Maxolution® portfolio allows applications in the customer’s facility to be incorporated into a single network.”
This creates the foundation for a complete system to work synergistically; it also opens the door to integrate new systems and enable existing systems to adapt to product changes. With its easily programmable application modules, Maxolution® can offer cost-effective adaptability for product variations in a production line.
The system has already been installed to help automate the factories of leading South African car manufacturers. However, Engelbrecht highlights that Maxolution® offers significant potential in other sectors too, helping to raise efficiencies, productivity and output.
“With our experience and the proven technology, we can use Maxolution® to implement automation plans cost-effectively and quickly,” he says. “These solutions also save energy, using energy management systems and energy-efficient IE4 and IE5 mechatronic decentralised solutions and motors.”
The Maxolution® offering positions SEW-EURODRIVE as not only an equipment supplier, but as a partner that can help customers in implementing automation projects, from planning and commissioning to after-sales service and support. Customers can also take advantage of the training for their staff offered at SEW-EURODRIVE’s new Drive Academy near Johannesburg.
For more information visit: www.sew-eurodrive.co.za
