Toshiba has been developing and improving its variable speed drive technology since the 1980s. It’s not new technology, this is simply equipment that works and has evolved in line with industry needs to provide mine site owners with reliable, robust motor control to power their operations.
When delivering optimal power, control and reliability for mine site machinery, an apt metaphor is that of the katana swordsmith, who has worked their whole life to perfect their art and continues to improve the quality of their skills over time.
For a company like Toshiba, this metaphor works on multiple levels in relation to its variable speed drive (VSD) technology.
Delivering razor-sharp motor control
Installed between the electrical supply and motor, VSDs convert inbound power into an ideal voltage, delivering precise and accurate control, allowing the user to continuously adjust the motor’s speed without losing torque. This is all executed in the microsecond by carefully-crafted algorithm, delivering robust, sophisticated control, reducing shocks, vibration, and combating voltage imbalances and fluctuations that can cause errors.
VSDs are a finely-honed tool
Toshiba has been manufacturing VSDs since the 1980s and, with the shift into Industry 4.0, VSDs are now in their seventh generation. Now, they can connect securely to the cloud, acting as the smart sensor that facilitates information flow from the motor to the owner, delivering critical information that empowers the operator to make important decisions in real-time, helping to optimise savings and maximise yield.
Meeting the needs of modern industry
While the VSD itself isn’t new, they continue to evolve as mine technology does. Toshiba will continue to sharpen their skills, keep honing the blade, and deliver cutting edge mine site technology that’s built on a legacy of reliability.
Featured image: Toshiba’s VFAS3 IP55 Inverter Family. Image credit: Toshiba.
