SEW-Eurodrive ‘closes the loop’ with more diverse range of drives, automation, sustainability solutions

Power train solutions company SEW-EURODRIVE has announced that it is rolling out a wider selection of planetary drives as part of its ‘close the loop’ strategy, geared at servicing more industry sectors than previously.

Among the new ranges being introduced into South Africa are its SEW PPK series and the SEW P2.e series of planetary gear units.

Speaking at the Electra Mining Africa 2024 exhibition, in Johannesburg, on September 2, SEW-EURODRIVE national sales and marketing manager Jonathan McKey explained that these new additions to the local range served to bring the company’s global engineering and applications capabilities to South African shores.

“The PPK series was originally developed by SEW-EURODRIVE in Brazil, for instance, to serve [that country's] large and thriving sugar sector. Our design and engineering experts in Germany then further leveraged these advances when they developed the SEW P2.e series, which is aimed at larger applications,” he said.

McKey emphasised that both series had been leveraged to build upon the key benefits that planetary gear units provided, which was a compact solution for space-constrained conditions, with high torque and low-speed outputs.

The SEW PPK series delivers 10 kNm to 18 kNm of torque with a ratio range from 65:1 to 390:1, while the SEW P2.e series encompasses torque ratings from 24 kNm to 124 kNm, with ratios from 15.2:1 to 332:1.

“The SEW PPK satisfies the need for a lower torque requirement and is well suited to southern hemisphere markets,” he explained, adding that the ratio could be further reduced by the addition of a primary reducer before the planetary head to reach ratios up to 10.65:1 for a much lower speed capability.

The SEW P2.e was then developed with all these features but with a broader spectrum of diversity in its speed – up to 100 rpm – as well as in ratio and torque, he said. McKey further noted that, while most planetary gearboxes have a three-stage design, the SEW P2.e could also be supplied in a two-stage model.

SEW-EURODRIVE projects business development manager Greg Lewis added that the company had been careful to retain the same critical dimensions as previous SEW P-series models. This was done to facilitate a seamless transition to the more versatile SEW P2.e units without altering their operating environment or infrastructure.

Lewis added that, among the common applications in the mining sector for planetary gearboxes were clarifiers, thickeners and apron feeders. Other industrial applications included slewing drives, screw feeders and wood panel presses.

“In the agricultural sector, sugar mills are big users of planetary units. The SEW PPK series, arising as it did to serve the needs of sugar mills in Brazil, has [several] opportunities for application in African countries,” he noted.

McKey pointed out that the reduced weight of these planetary ranges, as compared to traditional technologies, was important to note.

“A sugar mill’s crystalliser, for example, will conventionally have a multi-gear solution which applies considerable weight and strain on the system. A compact planetary unit from SEW-EURODRIVE can now deliver the same results with much less weight, within an integrated design. The benefits are also felt in less wear on components like bearings and the civils structures, which leads to less maintenance being required,” he explained.

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS
SEW-EURODRIVE also showcased its new high-performance ECO2 geared motors, which was designed with sustainability in mind to service the growing demand for more environment-friendly manufacturing processes.

The ECO2 range features a coating-free design, which means that there are no solvents or coatings used on the outer surfaces. This makes these units more efficient and reliable in indoor applications where humidity levels can reach 60%.

Further, they can operate in temperatures between minus 20 °C and 60 °C. Their aluminium construction reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere to form a thin protective layer.

“When we repair these products later on, there's no need to respray them because the coating simply redevelops itself again,” McKey explained.

The ECO2 design also meets the requirements of ISO 12944 corrosive category 1.

McKey also mentioned SEW-EURODRIVE’s new XE Agitator, which was launched in Hanover, in the Northern Cape, last year.

“Africa, by no means, stands back for anybody when it comes to modernisation and embracing technology. We continue to pioneer these different elements and these different activities in our continent,” he said.

In addition, McKey noted the launch of SEW-EURODRIVE’s own gear oil fill product.

“This enhances the product's performance and the need to do oil change intervals by up to 50% longer. This reduces the need to affect the Earth negatively when you’re able to take this user oil and recycle it again and again,” he explained.

He said that SEW-EURODRIVE was one of the first companies of its kind globally to release gear fluid produced completely from a sustainable biomass.

“So, there is no longer the need for raw fossil fuels. This oil is produced by, and can be bought on request from, SEW-EURODRIVE,” McKey said.

AUTOMATION
SEW-EURODRIVE also highlighted its new SEW Movi-C drive technology, which is a comprehensive modular automation system designed to provide seamless integration and high performance for various industrial applications.

SEW-EURODRIVE business development electronics manager Willem Strydom said the technology was particularly useful in applications such as hoisting, where Movi-C facilitated the use of regenerative power from braking, where it fed the energy back into the system or stored it in battery packs.

The MoviLink digital data interface (DDI) connects the drive train into the data system through a unique single hybrid cable solution.

“This further allows customers to receive real-time information on a range of indices, such as energy efficiency, application performance and condition monitoring,” he said.

The Movi-C product offering features the Movi-C Controller, which provides control for up to 64 axes and is integrated into the MoviSuite engineering software. The controller is designed for high-end applications, such as visualisation and machine control.

The MoviTrac Advanced is a compact all-rounder suitable for synchronous and asynchronous alternating current (ac) motors with or without an encoder. It features an integrated communication interface and safe-torque-off.

The MoviDrive Technology features an integrated communication and multi-encoder interface, capable of delivering energy savings through specialised functions for partial load operation and standby.

Additionally, the MoviMot Flexible offers decentralised automation capabilities with a simple startup owing to the digital motor integration with the MoviLink DDI. It is suitable for use with synchronous and asynchronous ac motors with or without an encoder.