Solutions - Forestry applications
Soft start can significantly improve the operation of heavy machinery in forestry applications. Soft start reduces starting current and torque, extending the life of machinery and reducing electrical disturbance, and also:
- improves operating efficiency by increasing start capability and shortening stopping times when equipment maintenance is required
- prevents electronic interference with other equipment in the facility and avoids electrical disruption to other customers on the same supply network
- all AuCom closed loop soft starters use advanced thermal modelling to protect against motor overload during operation. Alternatively, motor thermistors can be connected directly to the soft starter.
- allow simple integration into your existing communications network
Forestry case studies
CASE STUDIES - FORESTRY
Sawmilling in New Zealand
The Waipa Sawmill in New Zealand's Waikato region is one of Australasia’s largest sawmills. The mill operates a wide range of timber processing machinery, including chippers, slabbers, conveyors, debarkers and bandsaws, and sets the industry standard for throughput and processing techniques. When designing its systems, the company turned to AuCom soft starters to help ensure maximum operating efficiency.
Maintenance and running costs are a major overhead for sawmills, and Waipa needed a solution which would reduce wear and tear on the equipment and prevent motor control problems during start and run, as well as improve stability of the electrical supply. By installing AuCom soft starters on all key machinery, the sawmill has reduced electrical disturbances, torque transients and equipment operating overloads. Equipment life is extended by preventing machinery jams and saw blade de-alignment, as well as lockup causing equipment stress.
AuCom soft starters solution provide a number of major benefits to sawmilling, including:
- improved plant efficiency - soft braking quickly slows high inertia machines such as bandsaws and chippers, minimising downtime and allowing fast replacement of cutting knives and sawbands.
- reduced maintenance costs - soft start reduces starting stress on motor and machine couplings.
- fewer electrical disturbances - although the mill is operating near its full electrical supply capacity, soft start has allowed additional motors to be installed without electrical disturbances caused by motor starting.
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CASE STUDIES - FORESTRY
Timber Processing in Turkey
"The system is completely reliable and efficient. We have been extremely impressed by the level of skill and support and we would strongly recommend them to anyone as a project partner." Glowing praise for Koneksis Elektronic Kontrol, after successfully installing 76 new IMS2 soft starters in a major factory expansion for one of Turkey's leading timber processing firms, Kastamonu Entegre. Koneksis is the exclusive AuCom representative in Turkey, and since 2002 has built a strong following of customers devoted to AuCom starters.
Kastamonu Entegre already used AuCom soft starters in its particle board manufacturing plant, and was keen to continue with the successful formula when the plant needed expansion.
Koneksis played a key role in the project, designing a complete solution to meet the factory's specific requirements. Koneksis's close attention to details and thorough pre-engineering ensured the entire project ran smoothly and the expanded facility opened on time with no transition difficulties.
The plant uses a wide range of machinery, from mills and conveyors to pumps and fans. With motor sizes ranging from 22 kW to 400 kW, Koneksis recommended standardising on IMS2 soft starters. These advanced starters offer benefits to all areas of operation.
- Torque control reduces the level of vibration from fans while starting.
- Soft starting the conveyors reduces product damage during the manufacturing process
- Soft starters significantly reduce the mechanical stress on the large mills, extending their operating lifetime.
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