Our website uses cookies to improve your user experience. If you continue browsing, we assume that you consent to our use of cookies. More information can be found in our Privacy & Cookies Policy

Skip to content

The Student Engineer
Advanced Manufacturing
Awards
2018 Salary Survey
Latest Issue
Newsletter Signup

News
In-depth
Opinion
JOBS
Sectors
Supplier Network

Search Login / Register Primary Menu

Close

Email

Password

or Register

Supplier Network +Add your company

Supplier Product

Back to previous

AC drives

Low-voltage AC drives reduce energy consumption of Toyota plant

By ABB Automation Tech - Drives and Motors on 20th September 201115th December 2015

Product Details Supplier Info More products

ABB installed low-voltage AC drives in the fume extractors at GKN Autostructures’ Toyota production line, in order to reduce energy usage.

ABB provided low-voltage AC drives for the fume extractors at GKN Autostructures’ Toyota production line, in order to save money on energy usage.

The Toyota production line makes thousands of chassis cross members a week for the Auris and Avensis models of car, and welding is an important part of the process.

After assessing the energy usage of the plant, GKN identified fume extraction as an area where low-voltage AC drives could make a difference as their current units were over-sized for the application.

ABB installed two temporary drives at 55kW and 30kW for a two-week trial. Their motor speed was turned down until they were extracting a sufficient amount of air to remove the welding fumes from the inside of the plant. The company also trained staff on how to maintain the AC drives.

Key benefits of product application

As the optimum speed of the drives was found to be 42.5Hz, an average power saving of 55 per cent was produced.
In a year this would amount to £20,000 of energy savings for the plant.
By reducing the motor speed, the amount of noise produced was also reduced.
There was no negative effect on the air quality.
GKN is now installing the drives in a number of its other plants.

ABB Automation Tech – Drives and Motors

Visit our website 01925 741 111

View full profile

ABB offers services targeted to reduce machine failures in the marine industry

6th January 2012 3:01 pm 15th December 2015 2:14 pm

Drives Motors

Drives and motors from ABB help Manchester Airport to save energy and cut CO2 production

13th December 2011 12:27 pm 15th December 2015 2:18 pm

Variable speed

Blackberry app estimates how much energy can be saved by using variable-speed drives

12th December 2011 3:51 pm 15th December 2015 2:18 pm

Motors

ABB introduces range of IE2 motors in frame sizes 80–132 for use in explosive atmospheres

3rd December 2011 10:58 am 15th December 2015 2:19 pm

Variable speed

Variable-speed drive from ABB enables bakery to improve efficiency at its Wrexham facility

28th November 2011 12:01 pm 15th December 2015 2:21 pm

Variable speed

Variable-speed drives from ABB help cut costs and save energy at two hospitals in Bradford

18th November 2011 3:28 pm 15th December 2015 1:31 pm

Explore

Supplier Network
JOBS
SECTORS
SKILLS AND CAREERS
POLICY & BUSINESS
THE STUDENT ENGINEER
ARCHIVE
SALARY CALCULATOR
SALARY SURVEY 2018
C2I 2017
THE ENGINEER 160
VIDEOS
WEBINARS
BACK ISSUES
160 SPECIAL
LATEST ISSUE
Advertising – Display and Supplier Network
EVENTS
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
Advertise

Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

Advertise
Contact us
Cookies
Digital edition
Magazine subscription
Privacy
Website Terms and Conditions

© 2018. All rights reserved.

built by interconnect/it

Centaur Communications Ltd (a member of the Centaur Media plc group)

Wells Point, 79 Wells Street, London W1T 3QN. Registered in England No: 1595235