Bearings supplier BMG’s commitment to ensuring industry continues to operate efficiently and safely, even during difficult lockdown conditions, encompasses the ongoing supply and support of a range of engineering components, including drive systems and frequency inverters.

A critical part of maintaining optimum plant productivity is uninterrupted operation, through dependable, energy efficient electromechanical power transmission. In order to achieve high efficiency, with minimal downtime, which normally results from equipment failure, says BMG electromechanical drives division NORD drive systems national product specialist Deon Crous.

BMG specialists emphasise the importance of the installation of the correct components. All equipment should meet specific performance requirements – in line with stringent quality and safety specifications – with a guarantee for extended service-life and minimal maintenance requirements.

In close association with NORD, BMG is able to maintain its drive technology support to companies throughout Southern Africa during this challenging lockdown period, he adds.

NORD drive systems – developed by German precision engineers Getriebebau NORD and assembled locally by BMG – comprise optimum drive configurations, to ensure high-performance of mechanical speed control for specific applications, in almost every industry.

NORD modular drives – designed for reliability, energy efficiency, low noise levels, extended service life and reduced maintenance – are used in applications where frequently changing speeds are essential and where a specifically-defined sequence of movement is required. NORD drive systems are easy to expand or upgrade, using a minimum of different types and sizes of components.

Crous adds that being locally assembly at BMG World in Johannesburg, enables prompt delivery of drive systems and the quick availability of spare parts.

Meanwhile, included in BMG’s NORD range are drives suitable for torques from 10 Nm to over 250 kNm, electric motors in the power range from 0.12 kW to 1 000 kW and frequency inverters with the required power electronics up to 160 kW. Inverter solutions are available for conventional control cabinet installations, as well as for decentralised, fully integrated drive units.

He notes that BMG’s NORD drive systems and NORDAC frequency inverters are combined to offer a complete spectrum of fully flexible, modern frequency inverters. New to the range are control cabinet inverters and decentralised frequency inverters.

Additionally, NORD control cabinet inverters are important drive technology elements, designed to constantly monitor input voltage, output current and motor temperature, as well as for intelligent brake management. These new frequency inverters, which are suitable for high power, space-restricted applications, are housed and protected in a control cabinet.

NORDAC PRO SK 500E frequency inverters for control cabinet installations are available from BMG in 11 sizes, for powers from 0.25 kW to 160 kW. The new modular NORDAC PRO SK 500P generation features higher levels of functionality, including an integrated positioning function, synchronous motor operation and connectivity with USB ports and the universal Ethernet interface.

NORD’s decentralised technology, which integrates mechanical drive components and electronics components into compact units, provides highly efficient and reliable customised drive solutions that reduce operative and service costs, says Crous.

Decentralised drive technology – an alternative to control cabinet installations – incorporates frequency inverters that are installed close to the motor or mounted directly on the geared motor, to enhance productivity in many applications, including conveyor technology and intralogistics.

BMG’s robust NORDAC BASE frequency inverters provide simple, cost efficient, decentralised drive solutions in many industries, including parcel and logistics centres. The NORDAC FLEX range encompasses larger functional units and can be customised to suit specific requirements.

Other features include a user-friendly plug-in capability and the easy parameter transfer facility ensures quick installation and maintenance. The NORDAC LINK Field Distribution System comprises frequency inverters in three sizes (0.75 kW, 3.0 kW and 7.5 kW) and as motor starters.

These units are flexible in configuration and function, configurable to exact requirements and applications and are also compatible with all common bus systems. These frequency inverters are combined with an energy-efficient synchronous motor and a two-stage helical bevel gear unit, to form the LogiDrive concept and the basis for highly efficient customised drive solutions in intralogistics applications.

BMG supports the NORD range with local assembly to exact requirements and a substantial stockholding of components and spares. A team of technicians, with extensive experience in gearing, offers a technical advisory and support service throughout Southern Africa, which is tailored to meet the precise specifications of contractors, designers and the end-user.

BMG has been authorised to provide engineering components and services to essential service providers during the country’s Covid-19 lockdown.