Instrumentation


New research highlights growing market for low-power ac drives


S Low Power AC Drives W


ensirion is launching new versions of its SDP600 series ARC says that the market for low-power a c drives will recover from the deepest global downturn in recent history, resuming steady growth during the forecast period through 2014. According to a new ARC Advisory Group study, this trend will be due to growing investments in the infrastructure and manufacturing industries worldwide, additional requirements to increase the energy supply to keep pace with rising demand, and pressure from industry to deploy ‘sustainability solutions’ that reduce costs by saving energy. Senior analyst Himanshu Shah, the principal author of ARC’s orldwide Outlook report, states: “Emerging


economies, such as those in the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries and Eastern Europe, will again have increasing consumer demand from the growing middle class, more investments pouring into new infrastructures, and the need for producing and saving energy to cope with rising energy demands and costs in the future. This situation will bode well for low-power AC drives market growth.


Manufacturers are continually under pressure to raise productivity, lower product costs, reduce plant operating expenses, and increase return on investment in order to compete in the global market. Saving energy will be the key component for most organisations to be successful and profitable as energy costs are expected to rise. Consequently, capital investments for low-power AC drives are expected to grow across many industries as these products simultaneously save energy and raise productivity of machinery by providing better and more precise speed control. Globalisation is driving the use of advanced automation and energy-saving equipment worldwide. This will directly result in an increased use of low-power a c drives, which are widely employed across the process, discrete, and infrastructure industries such as building automation, chemicals, oil and gas, food and beverage, textiles, utilities, water and wastewater, and metals. Energy volatility and scarcity, as well as sustainability, are


affecting automation in a wide range of industries. Requirements for increased safety, regulatory compliances, sustainability, and energy savings are substantially impacting the design and capabilities of low-power a c drives. Asia’s demand for energy created turmoil in c rude oil prices that reached nearly $150 per barrel in mid- 2008 were back down to moderate levels in the early part of 2009. The world, however, got the taste of very high oil prices, which created awareness of the importance of new sources of energy, alternative energies, and energy savings. Energy scarcity is driving initiatives for energy saving and energy production, which will boost the deployment of a c drives. While every world region will experience growth in the low-power


a c drives market over the forecast period, there are significantly different factors affecting this market growth. A brief description regarding the economic scenarios for each major world area is covered in ARC’s report. In addition to the quantitative assessment of the low-power AC drive market, the report provides an insightful analysis of the market and strategies of leading suppliers that will impact this business in the future. ❒


For more information, visit www.arcweb.com Circle 21 or ✔ at www.engineerlive.com/ece


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The unit is used for custody transfer, inventory control measurement and free water detec- tion on shore tanks. Connected to a HERMetic vapour control valve, the UTImeter Gtex 2000 avoids any gas release during operation and enables 4 measurements in one single operation, Ullage, Temperature, Oil-water interface level and reference height to dip datum plate. By increasing safety and efficiency, Honeywell Enraf Tanksystem helps customers improve business performance.


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