Motor Control & Energy Efficiency
Variable Speed Drives Supplier in South Africa
4Sight OT Automation supplies variable speed drives from leading manufacturers, along with the engineering support to select, size and commission them correctly for your process.
We advise on the options available, help you find the right equipment for your specific industrial process, and support the installation through its working life with product support and system training.
What is a variable speed drive?
A variable speed drive — also called an adjustable speed drive — controls the operating speed of machinery. An external controller adjusts the speed of an industrial electric motor, which makes the process it drives more efficient and more controllable.
Because the power fed to the motor is controlled rather than fixed, a VSD reduces energy consumption. Less power drawn means lower energy costs, which is where most of the return on a drive installation comes from.
Sizing follows the motor: the size of the electric motor determines the size of the drive.
Operational Benefits
What a variable speed drive does for your plant
Longer motor life
A controlled start-up reduces starting current, which extends the working life of the motor.
Less power disturbance
Start-up disturbance is minimised, so nearby equipment — computers and sensitive electronics included — is less affected.
Process optimisation
Adjustable operating speeds let you tune the process and change speed as conditions require.
Torque protection
An adjustable torque limit protects driven machinery from damage caused by excess torque.
Lower energy costs
Reduced motor energy consumption translates directly into lower energy spend.
Fewer components
Drives often remove the need for gearboxes and similar components, saving equipment cost and floor space.
How We Work
Specified for your process,
Getting a drive wrong is expensive in both directions — oversized and you pay for capacity you never use, undersized and you shorten the life of the installation.
Assess
A consultant establishes what your process and electric motor actually require.
Specify & supply
We recommend the drive that balances speed control against cost and process efficiency, supplied from leading manufacturers.
Support & train
Product and system support, plus system training so your team gets full value from the hardware and software.
Why source drives through 4Sight OT Automation
We are an automation and control company, and therefore, the engineer specifying your drive also understands the motor control centre, PLC and process it forms part of.
- Quality equipment from leading manufacturers
- Independent advice across multiple drive ranges
- Sizing matched to your motor and duty
- Product and system support after installation
- System training for your operators and technicians
- Part of a wider motor control and automation capability
Frequently asked questions
What is a variable speed drive?
Equipment that controls the operating speed of machinery by adjusting an industrial electric motor through an external controller, used in process control to improve efficiency.
Is a variable speed drive the same as an adjustable speed drive?
Yes. The two terms refer to the same equipment and are used interchangeably.
How do variable speed drives save energy?
The drive controls the power fed to the motor rather than running it at full power continuously. Less power drawn means less energy used and lower energy costs.
What size variable speed drive do I need?
Drive size follows motor size, and available units range from roughly the size of a milk carton to the size of a cupboard. Our consultants determine the correct sizing for your application.
Do you provide support and training?
Yes. We assist with product and system support and offer system training so your team gets the best from the hardware and software supplied.
Talk to a consultant about variable speed drives
Tell us about your process and motor and we will determine the right drive for cost and process efficiency.