Implementation of Optidrive Variable Speed Drives at Polyplastics BV Plant
The installation of Optidrive variable speed drives at the plastic window manufacturing plant in Rotterdam was a significant step forward, allowing almost complete avoidance of downtime in the production process.
The company Polyplastics BV specializes not only in plastic recycling but also in the manufacturing and sale of acrylic windows, which are an alternative to glass. This provides the creation of a lighter and safer material that can be used in various fields, such as mobile homes, boats, and overhead doors.
Problems with the Milling Machine
The manufacturing base of the plant in Rotterdam contains a large number of presses, ovens, and milling machines. However, the CNC milling machine broke down every six months due to the failure of the inverter used to control the spindle motor, causing serious disruptions in production.
Choosing New Drives
The milling machine is equipped with a motor rated at 36,000 RPM, and the task was to adjust the output frequency of the converter from 0 to 1200 Hz under load. The Optidrive Plus 3GV 18.5 kW frequency converter was chosen, which allows frequency adjustment through a specialized High Speed Software Application. After the installation of the Optidrive Plus 3GV drive, no further issues or breakdowns were recorded.
Automation of the Technological Process
On the automated gluing system, consisting of conveyors, stackers, and corner tables, 14 Optidrive frequency converters were installed, which are used not only in the gluing process but also for managing the transportation of windows through the drying chamber.
The process begins when two lattice screens are glued with precise tolerances and then transported to the stencil printing department. After that, the final assembly of rubber seals, bolts, and hinges takes place. The main issue was the high temperature in the housings where the drives were located, which led to system downtime.
Advantages of the New Drives
One of the key selection criteria for the new drives was their convenience and ease of use, with an emphasis on speed and simplicity of installation and commissioning.
Polyplastics BV technician Hans Ovegor noted: “When old converters were installed, we had over 150 pages of documentation and many parameters. The complete manual for the Optidrive Plus 3GV consists of 36 pages, and during commissioning, we only changed 13 parameters. We also observed a remarkable reduction in heat dissipation produced in the control cabinet, and I have no doubt that this will contribute to the long-term reliability of the new system.”