In 1976, it was discovered that the bacteria causing Legionnaires disease, an atypical strain of pneumonia, had always been present in water, but it was the precise temperature of the water in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems that facilitated the bacteria’s maximum reproduction levels. This is just one example of the unintended consequences of technology.

In the form of a brake chopper, incorporated into the device, many drives manufacturers actually design and build their products with a seventh Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT). Global Business Development Manager of Maintenance and Repair Specialist at CP Automation, John Mitchell is going to look at the dangers of taking the IGBT for granted.

A high voltage, high performance three-phase EMC filter range from Roxburgh EMC is available at specialist distributor CP Automation The KMF3420V is specifically designed for use with high kW inverters used in photovoltaic solar power applications. The filters are fitted on inverters to minimise harmful electromagnetic noise that can damage electrical equipment or cause spurious malfunctions

When contemplating entering the cranes and hoists market, panel builders and system integrators need to think outside the box - not only laterally but vertically as well. Mainstream horizontal applications like conveyors cannot be shoehorned into the same category as cranes and hoists. Tony Young, owner and director of CP Automation explains the complexities of vertical lift applications.

European manufacturers are estimated to spend over €400bn every year on maintenance activities. Studies show that about 30% of failed machinery can be repaired at half the cost of buying replacements, which suggests a potential 15% saving. John Mitchell, business development manager, CP Automation, discusses the issues that stop manufacturers cutting costs and improving productivity – the essence of lean manufacturing.

The rise of non-linear loads in industrial environments over the last two decades has resulted in the growing problem of harmonic currents and utility-level voltage distortion. Facing a lack of awareness, the industry has struggled to implement effective mitigation techniques. Here, global business development manager of CP Automation, John Mitchell, discusses offers useful tips for mitigating harmonics.

2014 has seen record levels of applications in which CP Automation's range of harmonic filters have been required, according to the company. The number and capacity of drives used in plant applications is increasing, and rising levels of harmonics are beginning to play havoc in industry, the most common problems including extreme stress on the electrical network, deterioration of the supply voltage quality and damage to equipment.

Authored by Jonas Persson, Product Manager, Comsys, a whitepaper exploring different methods of harmonic mitigation has been made available by CP Automation. Designed to tackle a lack of industry awareness, the paper will educate engineers on the most appropriate solutions to mitigate the damage caused by harmonic currents and utility level voltage distortion.