The Zest WEG Group has manufactured and commissioned its first locally-made new generation CF11-M modular variable speed drive (VSD)
The 750kW VSD was supplied to Weir Minerals Africa, together with three motors — 750kW, 400kW and 110kW — for use within its state-of-the-art in-house pump test facility at Isando.
Modular VSDs were previously assembled into enclosures by Zest WEG Group’s holding company, WEG, in Brazil and imported to the African market as a complete product. However, Zest WEG Group company, Shaw Controls has developed an enclosure to suit the South African market and has been able to assemble modular VSDs into locally-manufactured enclosures.
Zest WEG Group manager for automation Johan van Niekerk said, “The addition of locally-manufactured CF11-M modular VSDs to our product range has benefited Weir Minerals Africa in terms of a lower cost, custom design and a manufacturing period reduced from 12 to six weeks.
“The multi-disciplinary resources within the Zest WEG Group also reduce the risk to the customer who is dealing with one organisation and one point of contact.”
Although the VSD technology has come from WEG Brazil, the contract was executed locally by Zest WEG Group’s drives and automation specialists, who performed the custom design, testing and commissioning.
Shaw Controls manufactured the enclosure and assembled the modular VSD, while EnI Electrical, another Zest WEG Group company, performed the site installation and cabling of the modular VSD to Weir Minerals Africa’s supply and pump test rig.
