How manufacturing sector is shedding its weight with new-age industrial tools

Credit to Author: Atin Chhabra| Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2018 05:19:19 +0000

The manufacturing sector is embedded in the very fabric of the world’s economy. It’s easy to see why this is the case – states depend on the money they get for exporting their manufactured goods and commodities. Therefore, the manufacturing sector is – without a shadow of a doubt – one of the most significant pillars that holds up the world’s economy. The manufacturing industry has evolved due to various technological advancements. This can be traced back to the conceptualisation of new-age industrial tools and their actual usage in the factories.

One such device that has played an essential role in the revival of this industry is the Programmable Logic Controller or PLC. PLCs are vital for the functioning of the manufacturing sector because of their ruggedness. This basically means that they are capable of operating in harsh conditions, have a reasonable debug capacity, and are easy to use. Technological innovations have paved the way for more sophisticated PLC models. Advanced models have dedicated microprocessors incorporated within them that allows for increased reliability and more control over the device. Since these controllers are built for automation, they enable users to operate the equipment in real-time and adapt to any changes that may happen over time. The servicing and maintenance of these controllers is also an easy process, which helps in contributing to the overarching notion that they are an essential control system.

The servo motors also form a crucial part of the manufacturing sector, and technological advancements in the field have smoothened the path for improved and modern servo motors in the market. Improvements in this equipment have increased the productivity and efficiency of this product. Enhanced servo motor technology has led to decreased maintenance, longer equipment life, higher torque output, and silent operation. Newer models have better coordination skills and are also embedded with advanced pre-programmed routines. Their superior performance across many applications and the reduced cost of ownership have made them a popular addition in the manufacturing sector.

Contactors are also a critical feature that is used in this industry. Innovative contactors have started occupying more space because of their high-voltage applications. This factor, combined with the overload protection that they offer, make them a suitable option for operating heavy appliances.

Limit switches have also improved significantly in the last few years. Enhanced switches are increasingly being used in the present times because of their general industrial applications. The sensors embedded within heavy-duty limit switches allow for better control and reliability.

Push buttons are another leading resource utilised in the manufacturing sector. These switches are prevalent in the industrial structure because of the increased flexibility and functionality that they offer. Normal switches are unable to deal with high-voltage situations, and this makes push buttons a superior option as compared to regular ones.

The function of motor starters is pretty self-explanatory, but this piece of technology has also been subject to a lot of technological innovation. This has helped transform newer models into highly reliable and flexible machinery. This electro-mechanical protection device has various benefits including lesser machine downtime and lower cost of maintenance.

Variable Speed Drives (VSD) are alternately known as Adjustable Speed Drives (ASD) and Variable Frequency Drives. The VSD basically controls and regulates the motor speed of the machine to which they are attached. They are quite popular in the manufacturing industry because of their energy conservation attributes. More sophisticated versions of the same are being developed and used as they help simplify industrial processes to a greater extent. Changes in their configuration have eased the complications that used to arise in the effective operations of the traditional models.

Medium voltage switchgear is another new-age industrial tool that allows you to connect any equipment using the Internet of Things (IoT). They offer complete control over medium-voltage power equipment and provide a high degree of safety to both the operator and the operation itself. They are an economically efficient solution and, hence, pivotal to the manufacturing industry.

These new-age industrial equipment and tools have led to a robust revitalisation of the manufacturing industry. This industry has been evolving since its very origin, and these industrial tools have alleviated many of the difficulties that manufacturers and workers experience in their day-to-day operations.

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