At Africa Automation Technology Fair this year (AATF 2025), Schneider Electric South Africa launched two new flagship products – the Altivar Process ATV6100 Medium Voltage (MV) Drive and the Breaker Status and Communication Module (BSCM) Modbus SL/ULP.
The Altivar Process ATV6100 MV Drive provides a more cost- and energy-efficient solution for demanding industrial applications.
ATV6100 MV Drive
Speaking at the launch, Didier Kayembe, Schneider Electric Offer Manager, Variable Speed Drives and Speed Drive Systems - Anglophone Africa, said the ATV6100 MV Drive is a complementary offering to Schneider Electric’s existing ATV6000 MV drive range.
“The new Altivar Process ATV6100 enhances our portfolio with a more compact and optimised design and versatile features that support energy-efficient operations – particularly in the energy and chemicals, and water and wastewater industries,” Kayembe said.
The new MV drive prioritises space optimisation and versatile performance, and this makes it suitable for applications demanding a compact footprint and precise motor control. The focus on versatility translates to several key benefits for operations, including reduced footprint, high performance, and tailored engineering solutions.
Kayembe highlighted that the ATV6100 covers power ranges from 150 kW to 13 500 kW and voltage from 2.4 kV up to 11 kV, providing optimal solutions for MV drive applications. The reduced kilowatt and kilovolt rating (compared to 160 to 20 000 kW and 2.4 to 13.8 kV in the ATV6000 offering) provides a more cost- and energy-efficient solution for lower-range applications, such as conveyors in mining and material handling as well as pumps in water treatment facilities.
“The ATV6100 is therefore a complementary offering, more user-friendly in terms of its smaller footprint and it features a modular design that allows for easy compartmentalisation and quicker repair of individual parts. It is essentially a response to the needs of our customers,” Kayembe said.
BSCM Modbus SL/ULP
The innovative BSCM Modbus SL/ULP product provides real-time visibility into the status of breakers for enhanced safety and system reliability. The new BSCM is a direct replacement for the legacy BSCM (LV434205).
Speaking at the launch, Tshepo Malalane, Offer Specialist, Power Products at Schneider Electric, said the unit facilitates connectivity with two available protocols (Modbus SL and ULP) in one communication device and features a simplified architecture with an additional Modbus hub and RJ45 connections. The new architecture also reduces installation time by 30% and reduces the space requirement on the panel level, while also achieving a smaller carbon footprint through its design rules.
Malalane said the new product offers full backward compatibility, including continued support for the existing Universal Logic Plug (ULP) architecture. It is ideal for panel builders, OEMs and facility managers seeking a simplified, future-ready solution that maintains continuity with existing systems and unlocks new digital capabilities.
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