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• Automation in enclosure assembly 

  Kiesling Maschinentechnik, a member of the Friedhelm Loh Group, is a specialist for automation solutions in switchgear manufacture. After a five-year development period, the Averex, reported to be the world’s first robotic wiring centre is production-ready. But first, two real-world field tests will be conducted in the second half of 2014.

• Centralised or de-centralised automation 

  RITTAL says we live in a world of rapid change, driven by the growth of ‘smart technology’, automation components are becoming more compact, both for centralised and decentralised applications, while still delivering considerable computing power and sensors and actuators are also getting more ‘intelligent’.

• Electronic motor controller  

  RITTAL says a new electronic motor controller is now available for its RiLine Compact busbar system. The company says all it takes is a matter of seconds for the controller to simply clip the controller onto the busbar and its easy wiring means installation costs are lower than those for traditional electro-mechanical devices.

• Maximising energy savings through the systems approach 

  Various countries around the world have taken different approaches towards energy usage and possible energy reduction. Across Europe, the Commission has concentrated on components within the Energy Related Products Directive (ErP).

• Time to say goodbye? 

  A motor control centre (MCC) sits at the heart of an industrial plant. If well maintained, an MCC can last for decades, but despite their sturdiness, even the most reliable MCCs have to be retired at some point. Pat McLaughlin, operations director of Boulting Group, explains the early warning signs that an MCC needs replacing. There are several reasons for replacing an MCC, but the most common ones include obsolescence, incompatibility with new legislation or the condition of the MCC deteriorating. Technological advancements that allow the design of intelligent, more efficient MCCs are another reason why companies sometimes opt for an upgrade.