Industry 4.0 for automated electronics manufacturing

SPS Italia in Parma stands as a pinnacle for Italy's smart, digital, and sustainable industry. From May 28 to 30, 2024, Dunkermotoren and MAE, both AMETEK brands, will grace Hall 5, Stand L005, as steadfast partners of the Italian industry, impressing with their renowned quality and adaptability. Among their offerings, Dunkermotoren will unveil the PLG 75 ServoLine gearbox, boasting a service life exceeding 20,000 hours, ideal for long-lasting DC motors. This comprehensive motor-gearbox solution thrives in applications with high cycle rates, distinguished by reliability, robust torque, and remarkable efficiency. Nexofox, the Dunkermotoren IIoT brand, will also take center stage, showcasing its latest breakthrough. Explore the foundation for your smart factory with NexoLink, a novel module facilitating seamless integration of all smart Dunkermotoren motors. NexoLink's modular extensions, such as Smart Diagnostics and Predictive Maintenance, enable sensor-free monitoring of gearbox wear, serving as a vital indicator of overall service life. Nexofox is rapidly advancing in the hardware sector. In addition to the existing BGE 5510 dPro external controller, the BGE 8060 dPro now joins the controller family as a formidable addition."

At SPS Italia, Dunkermotoren emphasizes its smart BLDC motor series dPro, ranging from 20 to 5000 W, featuring bus and Ethernet interfaces such as CANopen, PROFINET, EtherCAT, and Ethernet/IP. A notable highlight is the PROFINET Showcase, demonstrating the synchronous operation of four axes powered by BG dPro PN motors.

Since mid-2023, Dunkermotoren's product lineup includes the NG 1000 WO hub gearbox, providing further development possibilities for driverless transport systems (AGVs and AMRs). When paired with the BG 95 dPro, this solution stands at a mere 95 mm in height and, thanks to axle offset, enables vehicles with a minimum width of only 600 mm and a potential total weight of four tons. Versions with reduced gear backlash allow exceptionally precise vehicle positioning. Moreover, the availability of low-noise gearbox versions extends the applicability of mobile and self-propelled equipment, catering the requirements in the medical sector, such as mobile MRI or X-ray machines.

Dunkermotoren's solutions are particularly suitable for omni- or multidirectional vehicles. A compact and intriguing solution from TEKNO M.P., ideal for 360° continuous rotation, is showcased at the booth.

Dunkermotoren´s sister company, MAE, focuses on another critical trend: local sourcing. MAE fully embraces this trend, manufacturing its products exclusively in Europe. Thanks to the option to add brakes, encoders, gearboxes, and electronics, MAE's stepper motor portfolio offers flexible integration into diverse applications. The newly integrated sGo electronics provide a cost-optimized control solution for Nema 17 and Nema 23 sizes.

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The next generation of intelligent motors (PDF)

Dunkermotoren and MAE are exhibiting at Agrishow Brazil

The Agrishow in Brazil is the place to be for all agriculture technology manufacturers around the world. Especially for the Brazilian and South American market the show is the number one meeting point when it comes to industry trends and technology.

From April 29th to May 3rd, 2024 Dunkermotoren and MAE, both brands of AMETEK, will be exhibiting in the Arena de Soluções Agro in Rua 5 at booth 72.

Dunkermotoren and MAE are well-known in the agricultural business for motor and blower solutions. With the slogan „Agri goes electromechanical“, both companies want to push the switch from pneumatic to electric motor solutions. The electrification of agro machines is one of the industry´s megatrends, allowing processes to become more efficient, thus, increasing the overall productivity while reducing its costs. The blower and motor solutions from MAE and Dunkermotoren impress with maintenance-free lifetime, high energy efficiency and a robust design with protection class up to IP69K.

For those who are not familiar with Dunkermotoren – the outstanding advantage of Dunkermotoren´s smart brushless motors is their integrated intelligence into the housing and the possibilities within Smart Farming with nexofox, the company´s own IIoT brand. The communication interfaces CANopen or other Ethernet interfaces are belonging to the standard portfolio of smart motors (Series BG dPro) at Dunkermotoren. Integration of multiple devices, predictive maintenance and condition monitoring are simple to implement.

In addition to their brushless motors, Dunkermotoren will also present their linear systems at the show. An innovation – designed for the harsh environments agricultural machines are operating in - is the electric actuator CAHB. Combined with a brushless or brushed DC motor it can e.g., adjust the crop ejector on forage harvesters, and offers completely new possibilities as an alternative to pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. The CAHB is very powerful and is available with strokes up to 700 mm and forces up to 10,000 N. This electric solution is much more energy efficient compared to pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. Expensive air pressure or oil supply are eliminated. Additionally, features such as positioning, speed ramps, force measurement, and the creation of individual motion profiles can be realized based on customer requirements.

MAE is presenting its latest highlights of stepper motors and blowers.

Stepper motors are used in electromechanical systems that demand precision and movement control in agricultural machines such as planters, sprayers, and mechanism drives such as valve controls. The MAE stepper motors are available in the three common NEMA sizes: 17, 23 and 34. They can be configured with gearboxes, brakes, encoders, and integrated electronics. High IP standards are available on request.

MAE’s electric blowers have an extensive pressure and flow range offering flow control, efficiency with low energy consumption and a compact size compared to hydraulic blowers. Blowers can be applied to different products that require positive pressure or vacuum, such as transporting materials, transporting seeds and inputs, storage and cleaning systems.

The products of both companies are used in seeding, fertilizing and milking applications as well as for farming robots.

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• Press release (PDF)

From May 14th to 17th, 2024, the Interclean exhibition in Amsterdam opens the doors to the world’s experts for cleaning and hygiene. As a renowned supplier for the cleaning and hygiene market, MAE, a brand of AMETEK, is taking part as exhibitor. In Hall 7 at booth 420, MAE is presenting their latest innovations for the cleaning market.

The blowers of MAE have been used for many years for the suction function of scrubber-driers. They suppress with excellent air performance, quiet operation, high speed, and a very good power, size and weight ratio. Additionally, all products are equipped with the best-in-class energy efficiency according to the new Ecodesign Directive and are made in Europe.

Especially the new By-Pass Universal Blower BU 82 2-stage, available as AC and DC version, has been developed for the unique performance requirements of scrubbers. The blower offers high efficiency in a small and compact design. Due to its low weight, it is perfectly suited for mobile devices, and impresses with additional features such as an extended service life and other characteristics beneficial for their use in scrubber driers.

In the range of brushless blowers and motors, MAE presents the new BB 42 By Pass: A high-speed BLDC blower with on-board speed control and optimized air flow system. Furthermore, it is excellently suited for battery-powered applications due to high efficiency and has an outstanding air-performance compared to package size.

Another highlight is MAE´s 89 motor platform, available in both, By Pass and Thru-Flow configurations in AC and DC versions. Offering increased efficiency and reduced noise emissions, this brushless blower has a robust aluminum housing and impeller, ensuring durability and optimal performance. With on-board drive control and closed-loop speed regulation, it's a versatile solution for various cleaning equipment.

Dunkermotoren, the sister company of MAE and also a brand of AMETEK, is co-exhibiting at the MAE booth. Dunkermotoren is well-known in the field of industrial automation and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and offers experience valuable for applications such as autonomous and ride-on cleaning machines. The BLDC motor BG 66 dPro with the NG 250 hub gearbox is the perfect travel drive for cleaning robots. The solution impresses with a compact and robust design, a long service-life, and is available in various sizes and with different radial load capacity – all made in Germany.

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• Press release (PDF)

Technology transfer and responsiveness to economic and social needs are the way forward for the evolution of professional cleaning according to the experience of MAE.

With the baggage of a long industrial history, MAE, a brand of AMETEK, located in Peschiera Borromeo (MI), aims to consolidate and develop its business of designing and manufacturing advanced motion solutions for a diverse range of applications. Professional cleaning market has acquired a strategic centrality in the production landscape over the years.

In recent years, brushless technology for both, blowers and motors, has joined the original product range of cleaning devices based on universal motors. Thus, applications including carpet vacuuming and centralized vacuum systems, polishers, robotic cleaners, floor scrubbers, dry and wet/dry vacuums and vacuum water filtration systems can now be enhanced by leveraging the new technology.
Today the MAE portfolio includes brushless DC motors, stepper, permanent magnet and universal motors, brushless and universal blowers, as well as palletizing, sorting and stacking systems. What unifies all these technologies is the integration of technological innovation with efficiency reducing energy consumption while maintaining the durability and high performances of the products.

Regarding the constant evolution of the market, there are new needs to be considered. Alessandro Vaghi, MAE Business Manager and Country Manager for Italy and Spain explains the market.

"Our industrial reality began in the Cleaning sector in the early 1960s.Today, we are operating not only in this segment but expanded our market experience. Thanks to the integration into the AMETEK Group in the early 1990s, MAE has been able to benefit from the technology developed in the United States for the high-end, professional and industrial market segments, adapting them to the needs of the European market within a logic of synergy. Today, in the Italian site, close to Milan, we have a Research and Development department that operates in close collaboration with the engineering facilities of Dunkermotoren in Germany, a company of the AMETEK Group that has a strong and consolidated presence in industrial markets with a wide range of brushless and brushed motors."

MAE’s flagship products aimed at the Cleaning sector target the professional world.

"For more than a decade we have focused our attention on the professional and industrial segment where product reliability and durability are key competitive requirements. High-speed DC motors provide efficiencies that maximize battery life and are attracting great interest in the industry today because of the prospects for development."

How important is it investing into the research and development of new products in the today´s cleaning market?

"We are facing a momentous transformation here. We are working with great intensity on preparing our technology platforms for the new challenges that will require increasingly energy-efficient products built with manufacturing process and materials aligned with the new Green Economy standards. The solutions we propose to the cleaning market are not only aimed at suction but cover all 'motion' requirements of the application, with great attention to the evolving customer needs. This makes us determined to invest in research and development: Ten years from now we will be in front of a very different world and the change is underway. Those who do not catch it cannot keep up with the transition. This is particularly true if we keep in mind that the cleaning sector has to respond to new market requirements such as an increased focus on hygiene and sanitation. Let’s just think to the healthy work environment that is now an important part in the cultural and technological model proposed by the perspective vision of Industry 5.0."

Technological and product performance evolution, shaped by the needs of - and together with - OEMs is the benchmark for developing new research trends.

"We need to look at the product as an increasingly integrated solution. The request for greater energy efficiency, and thus the ability to maximize performance with the lowest energy consumption, is critical today. If pursued in strong collaboration with the OEM, this approach can achieve outstanding results. The digital transition is a further impulse for the development of robotic solutions for which we are preparing by leveraging R&D synergies within the entire Business Unit including MAE, Dunkermotoren, EGS Automation and nexofox. Thus, thanks to engineering departments that have acquired strong competencies working on very diverse market segments, we can keep up with transition."

By leveraging knowledge from different market sectors and regions, technology transfer offers a great chance for developing new solutions.

"Dunkermotoren's strong expertise in traction platforms, including those with brushless technology, now enables us to expand our range of solutions for the Cleaning sector. The advantage of cross-industry and multi-sector technological knowledge will be the real critical success factor in the future. It will most certainly enable us to respond with greater speed and flexibility to further transitions in the different markets. But cross-sector collaboration is not only limited to new product development. It also includes e. g. the supply chain where we have leveraged each other's expertise to accelerate the implementation of a European supplier base to offer products with shorter lead times, while protecting our customers from geopolitical risks."

Downloads

• Press release (PDF)