ABB provides engineered solutions for AC and DC drives across a broad range of applications. Designed to meet the exacting needs of your business or process, you can be sure that your technical requirements will be met and your business targets achieved.

In keeping with the latest trends of energy efficiency, local support from OEMs and reduced total cost of ownership, ABB South Africa offers complete packaged solutions for water and wastewater to mining and minerals, cement, petrochemicals and oil and gas industries.

Such packaged solutions range from the supply of medium voltage circuit breakers, inclusive of the required protection, to Variable Speed Drive (VSD) input transformers (if required), and correctly sized VSDs and motors for specific application. An e-housing can also be supplied in accordance with customer requirements.

A particular feature of the drive technology from ABB South Africa is the inclusion of a synchronous bypass option unit. This allows one drive to start and accelerate up to eight individual motors on pump or fan applications, for maximum efficiency, says Sarel Pelser, MV Drives Product Manager.

The synchronous bypass unit does not impact drive functionality negatively. Apart from using the VSD as a starting and network synchronising mechanism via the synchronous bypass unit, the VSD can also be implemented for process control functionality by controlling the motor shaft speed during system operation.

This has the advantage of reducing mechanical and process system transients while gaining controllability during start-up conditions. The VSD can control the motor speed continuously for unlimited periods, with the option of synchronising the motor directly to the supply grid.

This is available with the specific MV drive product portfolio from ABB South Africa, such as the ACS1000, ACS5000, ACS580MV and LCI. The power and voltage range covered with this functionality is 2 300 V to 20 kV (motor voltages), with a motor power range from 200 kW to 101 MW available upon request.

ABB South Africa specialises in large, complex and challenging customised application requirements. It has a large local technical sales and service support base in Southern Africa covering the entire industrial spectrum. Aftermarket support includes ABB AbilityTM condition monitoring and remote assistance for drives. This ranges from rapid support for onsite problems, using the drive data that has been stored remotely to deliver accurate real-time information about drive condition and events, ensuring maximum equipment availability and reliability.

In addition, ABB Drive Care Agreements range from Initial Care, a free service for newly purchased ABB MV drives during the first year of the warranty, to Complete Care, which allows customers to focus on their core business thanks to a fixed-price lifecycle agreement.

The future of your drives and systems depends on the service you choose. Your choice should be based on a well-informed decision. We have the expertise and experience to help you find and implement the right service for your assets. You have our guidance and full support along the course you take, throughout the entire lifetime of your drives.