Service and supply of drives, controls and braking resistors

February 16, 2011

Online buying for automation and control engineers

~ CP Automation and Euroserv launch new Web sites with e-commerce functionality at their heart ~

Independent Service Company CP Automation has launched new, e-commerce enabled, industrial repair and field service web sites for itself and its sister company Euroserv.

The two new sites cover the two company’s twin areas of focus; the supply, repair and field service of industrial electronic boards, PLC's, AC drives,resistors, DC drives and inverters. Both CP Automation and Euroserv provide an independent supply chain fulfilling their clients MRO needs; simply choosing the most appropriate product from any manufacturer for each job.

As well as online buying, the sites feature a host of information on technologies ranging from regenerative braking, dynamic braking and energy efficiency to electronic and electrical repairs and maintenance.

The two Web sites went live early in 2011 and the company's managing director Tony Young believes they are a reflection of the transformed purchasing methods in British industry. "Engineer's buying habits have changed hugely in the last decade," explained Young. “It’s now not unusual for automation companies to receive component orders without ever having spoken with the person buying the equipment. This is a huge contrast with the way the automation industry did business in the past, when salesmen’s visits, posted catalogues and reams of printed datasheets were the norm.”

One of the most innovative products on the two new sites is RevCon, a system which returns the energy produced when a motor slows down to the grid. RevCon can use a feed-in tariff, similar to those found on domestic and semi commercial wind turbines and can be retrofitted to any inverter, irrespective of design or manufacturer, thanks to its versatile non-software driven installation protocol. Because many motors, in applications such as pumps, fans, elevation and conveying are required to brake constantly as the application slows down and stops, the potential for saving with the unit is huge.

CP Automation’s Web site can be found at www.cpaltd.net, while Euroserv’s equivalent is www.euroservltd.net.

Ends: 337 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from CP Automation, paste the following link into your RSS reader http://cpa-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package Sharp Reader.

For further information contact:
Tony Young, CP Automation
Unit 8, Ashley Industrial Estate, Exmoor Avenue,
Scunthorpe, DN15 8NJ
Telephone: +44 (0)1724 851 515
Fax: +44 (0)1724 851516
www: www.cpaltd.net and www.euroservltd.net
e-mail: tony.young@cpaltd.net

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Business Innovation Centre, Staffordshire Technology Park,
Beaconside, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST18 0AR
Telephone: +44 (0) 1785 225416
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: www.stonejunction.co.uk
Blog: www.stone-junction.blogspot.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RichieStone

About CP Automation: CP Automation is a specialist in the repair and replacement of automation equipment including electronic boards, PLCs and AC and DC drives. It was established to provide an independent maintenance service, without exclusive ties to any manufacturer. However, it does have strong relationships with the principal inverter, encoder, resistors and motor manufacturers.

Ref: CPA045/12/10

July 30, 2009

New sites mark change in engineer’s buying habits

Service and supply of drives, VSDs, Inverters, controls and braking resistors

~ CP Automation and Euroserv launch new web sites outlining repair and field service offerings ~

Sister companies CP Automation and Euroserv have launched new Web sites, which outline the two company’s supply, repair and field service offerings. The two sites, www.cpaltd.net and www.euroservltd.net, detail the wide range of drives, motors, resistors and associated peripherals both companies offer, as well as their rapid fault identification and component failure analysis systems.

“We’re delighted to get both new sites online,” explained Tony Young, a director of the two companies. “The way we buy products in industry is changing as more and more items become commoditised. The inverter market for instance is now increasingly price driven, as the technology becomes cheaper and is duplicated across other elements of an industrial control system. As a result, features such as online buying are now becoming useful to engineers at the coal face. It seems anachronistic to say this in the age of social networking, Web 2.0 and engineering applications such as collaborative online design. However, our industry has always been relationship and expertise led and this has meant that until recently few engineers have wanted to buy from a Web site.”

The two companies specialise in the sale, repair and maintenance of industrial electronic boards, PLC's, AC drives, resistors, DC drives, encoders and inverters. The product range extends from simple, general purpose drives to mission critical systems requiring uncompromising control, enhanced intelligence, and high-speed communications capability. Both companies are entirely independent of any single manufacturer, instead boasting relationships with a host of suppliers including Control Techniques, Cressall Resistors, Emerson Industrial Automation and Gefran. As a result, CP Automation and Euroserv are able to offer the best, un-biased advice on any industrial automation application.

Ends: 294 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from CP Automation, paste the following link into your RSS reader http://cpa-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package Sharp Reader.

For further information contact:
Tony Young, CP Automation
Unit 8, Ashley Industrial Estate, Exmoor Avenue,
Scunthorpe, DN15 8NJ
Telephone: +44 (0)1724 851 515
Fax: +44 (0)1724 851516
www: http://www.cpaltd.net/ and http://www.euroserveltd.net/
e-mail: tony.young@cpaltd.net

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About CP Automation: CP Automation is a specialist in the repair and replacement of automation equipment including electronic boards, PLCs and Ac and DC drives. It was established to provide an independent maintenance service, without exclusive ties to any manufacturer. However, it does have strong relationships with the principal inverter, encoder, resistors and motor manufacturers.

Ref: CPA019/04/09

June 30, 2009

Appointment calls for an end to ‘line robbing’

~ New CP Automation field sales specialist calls for firms to take a longer view on maintenance ~

Allyn Richardson, the latest addition to the CP Automation field sales team, has called on manufacturers to stop using parts from moth-balled production lines to patch up active ones during the recession. He believes that a longer term predictive maintenance or planned maintenance schedule will be more profitable over a sustained period.

Richardson, who has recently joined CP Automation sister company Euroserv from maintenance and cleaning equipment business Safety Clean, understands that, during lull periods, production lines need to be turned off. However, the former retained fire fighter argues that scavenging parts from these lines will only lead to greatly increased costs when a ramp up in production is required.

“The situation can be compared to an automobile enthusiast who owns two classic cars,” explained Richardson, who has also worked as a quality manager for Tyneside Safety Glass, which manufactures bullet proof windscreens amongst other products. “If you take parts from one car to ensure the other is roadworthy, the one you leave in the garage will develop further problems while it’s inactive.”

Richardson, who is married with two children, has nearly thirty years experience in industry and has seen two previous recessions come and go in that time. As well as his work for Safety Clean and Tyneside Safety Glass, he was also employed for nearly twenty years by extrusion business Hydro Aluminium. Here he introduced a saw blade management system that significantly reduced costs and resulted in Richardson being awarded a coveted group award for delivering customer satisfaction.

Since joining Euroserv Richardson has already won significant new business for the company, in particular an account with a large procurement agent for a group of engineering businesses. However, he plans to focus on developing relationships with end users in the long term, in order to provide better service and value for money. “Maintenance is a person to person business,” offered Richardson. “Working direct with the client, instead of via an intermediary, means you can contact the customer direct to ensure they are happy. That’s what it’s all about really.”

Ends: 362 words

October 03, 2008

CP Automation set to integrate new resistor ranges

~ Service and maintenance specialist increases its focus on the elevation, crane and OCH sectors ~

Service and maintenance specialist CP Automation has announced that it will be improving its product offering for the elevation, crane and OCH industries by adding Cressall Resistor’s HP and ES series braking resistors to its portfolio. The relationship with Cressall is now well established and compliments CP Automation’s range of independent supply relationships with manufacturers of inverters, PLCs and other electronic equipment and control systems.

First in CP Automation’s range is Cressall Resistors’ HP series of high performance dynamic braking resistors (DBRs). The new range is ideal for use on cranes, winches, conveyors and test loads as well as on lifts and elevators. These compact, ready boxed DBRs are enclosed to IP20 and make virtually no noise when subject to inverter braking currents. Their low inductance open-wound element construction allows high power-dissipation in a small space. It is these two factors that make the HP series ideal for use in lifts and elevators where noise and heat dissipation are both significant issues. When used with an inverter, the units are suitable for use with any make of drive.

The range is divided into HP1, HP2 and HP3 units, which have continuous power ratings of 1.5kW, 3.0kW and 4.5kW respectively. The continuous power ratings can be exceeded when power is applied for less than 100% of the time and the extent to which this can be done is calculated using a simple equation.

Also available is Cressall Resistors’ rang of low noise ES braking resistors, which has recently been expanded with the addition of 1.0 and 2.0kW sized models. These new ratings complement the existing array, which includes 0.6, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5kW versions with resistance values from 3.9Ω to 330Ω. The new 1.0 and 2.0 kW sizes are used where there is the need to cope with high levels of regenerated energy in a compact space. This includes motor control on elevators, VSD control and use on conveyors, cranes and winches as well as test loads. Like the HP series, these robust IP20 rated units produce negligible audible noise.

Both sets of resistors are manufactured using high grade nickel chrome wire, which means the resistance value changes only negligibly over the temperature range of the element. “This is a significant factor,” explained CP Automation’s director Tony Young, “because a design using lower grade stainless steel could increase in resistance by as much as 50% - resulting in impaired braking.”

Ends: 421 words

August 29, 2008

RevCon saves energy and money and helps meet green targets for elevators owners

~ New product returns energy to the grid more cost effectively than other available systems ~

Independent maintenance consultancy CP Automation has teamed up with German electro-technology specialist, Elektrotechnishe Anlagen to provide UK sales for RevCon - a new product for returning to the grid the energy produced when a motor slows down. CP Automation expects RevCon to take the elevation industry by storm; because the motors driving elevators are required to brake constantly as the lift slows down and stops.

RevCon will work with any AC drive and is much more cost efficient than using two inverters to achieve the same effect. Furthermore, the product features a harmonic filter as part of the package, which ensures that the electricity returned to the network is fit for purpose and G5/4 compliant. A CP Automation spokesmen explained that there a several prestigious elevation projects in the UK that are already planning to install the product.

RevCon uses a feed-in tariff, similar to those used on domestic and semi commercial wind turbines, to allow the customer to charge the electricity supplier for the returned power. However, Tony Young, a director of CP Automation explained that, while RevCon isn’t a similar product to a wind turbine, the analogy is useful in outlining its efficiency. “A wind turbine isn’t particularly effective, normally operating at about 40% efficiency,” explained Young. “In contrast, when a motor slows down and begins to generate electricity, RevCon will operate at around 90% efficiency.”

“However, the bottom line for most businesses is the commercial imperative and this is where the product really comes into its own. The cost savings can be quite extensive in a facility where there are several lifts and escalators. This is the most compelling argument to present to the board!”

As well as acting as sales agent, CP Automation also offers advice on the overall project as well as repair and maintenance on motors, inverters, resistors and other peripheral products such as encoders. The company also provides replacement equipment when repair is impractical or not possible. In these instances, CP Automation’s independence comes to the fore – allowing it to stock a range of products from all the major motor and inverter manufacturers. Indeed, replacement inverters, encoders and motors are normally installed in a matter of days.

Ends: 393 words

February 28, 2008

Automation firm appoints new sales expert

~ Passionate environmental campaigner also highlights the history of woman in automation ~

Field service and maintenance specialist CP Automation has appointed long standing industry expert Jennie Gordon to the role of product sales manager. The new position will encompass both the CP brand and sister company Euroserv. Gordon has been in the automation industry since 1989, a time when there were few women in this niche of the once male dominated engineering industry.

Before joining CP Automation, Gordon worked for Betech Systems, a UK distributor for Baldor. Gordon explains, “I first joined Betech in telesales. But I take pride in knowing all about the thing I’m selling, so in the evenings I used to read American electric motor manuals. After three months I was offered a job as an internal sales engineer and later I moved into external sales, where I spent twelve years. My last role was as corporate sales manager.” Gordon went on to work for Coulstock & Place Engineering, her last position before joining CP Automation.

Gordon believes that the biggest highlight of her career has been making men understand, at board and shop floor level, that women have valuable engineering expertise to offer. “When I first moved into the automation industry, I encountered untold opposition. At that point there simply wasn’t the quantity of female engineers that we have now. Today, most people think it’s unusual to encounter a female engineer of my age but that hostility has gone in most places.” Gordon also includes tripling turnover at Betech amongst the experiences that have stayed with her throughout her career.

When asked about the standards of the industry in which CP Automation operates, Gordon responded with a passionate argument in favour of improving UK Plc’s environmental credentials. “I’m a green person and I think we waste too much in industry. Every business should invest in high efficiency motors run by inverters that will save energy. If everybody changed their EFF2 motors over to EFF1 motors we would see a phenomenal decrease in energy used. The same applies to fitting automatic sensor lights as a standard part of lean manufacturing initiatives.”

Gordon’s hopes for her time at CP Automation are simply to increase sales, although with typical ambition she argues the potential for this increase is ‘exponential’. “The thing about CP Automation is that its young company, with real ideas, argues Gordon. “It provides its staff with the backing to carry on doing what they are good at; it wants to develop its employees and help them develop the company in turn.”

Gordon is a funk jazz fan, and has a broad ranging interest in other kinds of music. Despite originating from Lancashire, she lives in Halifax, West Yorkshire and holidays in England. She believes that even as a sales engineer who constantly travels the UK, there are still countless sights to be seen within the country, further reinforcing her green credentials.

Ends: 484 words

January 18, 2008

Keep it simple without a keeper

~ CP Automation announces service and repair technique ~

Field service and maintenance specialist CP Automation has announced a service and repair technique for DC drives, attached to permanent magnet motors, that is set to make in-house re-setting of the serviced drive a thing of the past. The technique dispenses with the use of a ‘keeper’, which normally acts as a substitute for the armature in the servicing procedure. Instead, the company de-magnetises the motor before repair and then re-magnetises it afterwards to the correct setting.

The company utilises a set of specialist tools, including a magnetising cabinet, as well as intellectual property built up over decades in the drives industry to apply the new technique.

The reason that the settings on DC drives attached to motors that have been serviced or re-wound in their lifetime are often incorrect is that there is something unique to be borne in mind when repairing or servicing a DC permanent magnet motor. The standard philosophy within the rewind industry is to remove the armature and replace it with a ‘keeper’; to stop the levels of the magnets degrading. However, older magnets, and the material used to manufacture some newer magnets, will degrade while the armature is being removed and the keeper is being put in its place. The same applies when the armature is put back in after repair or service. The result is increased RPM and lost torque, which may mean the motor draws more current, costing money and creating a greater environmental impact.

If the CPA process isn’t used, an in-house engineer has to re-set the DC drive to cope with the changes to the motor. As a result, all the systems in the plant eventually become unique and cease to be interchangeable. The only solution is to de-magnetise the motor before repairing it and then re-magnetise it to the correct level afterwards, as CP Automation does. The company derives the calculation for this from the speed and EMF (Electro Motive Force) settings on the name plate of the motor.

“Plant managers want to swap equipment around in the event of a breakdown or maintenance issue,” explained Tony Young, a director of CP Automation. “However, they often find that the DC drives attached to permanent magnet motors on different production lines have different settings – making it hard to interchange things easily. Our solution means that that the settings will be exactly as specified on the name plate, meaning they can be swapped around easily.”

Ends: 413 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from CP Automation, paste the following link into your RSS reader http://cpa-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package Sharp Reader.

For further information contact:
Tony Young, CP Automation
Unit 8, Ashley Industrial Estate, Exmoor Avenue,
Scunthorpe, DN15 8NJ
Telephone: +44 (0)1724 851 515
Fax: +44 (0)1724 851516
www: http://www.cpaltd.net/ and http://www.euroserveltd.net/
e-mail: tony.young@cpaltd.net

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About CP Automation: CP Automation is a specialist in the repair and replacement of automation equipment including electronic boards, PLCs and Ac and DC drives. It was established to provide an independent maintenance service, without exclusive ties to any manufacturer. However, it does have strong relationships with the principal inverter, encoder, resistors and motor manufacturers.

Ref: CPA011/01/08