With energy costs continuing to rise, the integration of PowerFlex 755TS drives into industrial systems is enabling significant efficiency gains, cost savings and improved uptime across Africa’s most demanding operations, according to Referro Systems, a leader in industrial automation solutions and Rockwell Automation’s local distribution partner.
“Operators have reported energy reductions of between 10% and 30%, directly bolstering profitability in tariff-hiked markets,” says Referro Systems MD Adrian van Wyk.
He explains that this a benefit to the market, particularly in light of Eskom’s tariff hike by 8.76% this month: “Deployed in the daily operations of the continent’s industrial sectors, any inefficiencies can have a significant contribution to cumulative financial losses.”
The integration of Rockwell Automation’s PowerFlex 755TS drives into industrial systems enables improvements in efficiency, uptime and cost savings in Africa’s toughest operations.
Further, the PowerFlex 755TS with TotalFORCE technology, he notes, arms industrial operations with adaptive control, predictive maintenance and energy-saving features as standard. The addition of TotalFORCE to the PowerFlex range of variable frequency drives brings further simplified and consistent user experience, allowing users to leverage a common drive for multiple applications, which can simplify support and reduce burdens on staff.
“Traditional mechanical tweaks alone fall short in the fast environments we operate in, and true advancement demands intelligent motor control and real-time data analytics. This is precisely where the PowerFlex 755TS variable frequency drive (VFD) technology changes operations,” Van Wyk highlights.
Loads seldom run at steady states; loads surge and dip unpredictably. Van Wyk adds that the 755TS automatically adjusts motor performance based on load changes, with its adaptive control algorithms dynamically fine-tuning motor speed and torque. “This ensures smooth and consistent material flow even under fluctuating demand,” he states.
The drive’s onboard predictive analytics further monitors vibrations, temperatures, and performance metrics in real time, flagging early warnings like bearing wear and/or mechanical resonance.
Maintenance teams then receive actionable alerts through integrated dashboards, allowing interventions before failures escalate. For African operators, this translates to downtime reductions of up to 50%, Van Wyk reveals, freeing resources for growth rather than crisis management.
The PowerFlex 755TS Economiser mode optimises output voltage to match real-time loads, reducing waste, while its Energy Pause mode shifts the drive to a low-power standby during idles, and compatibility with premium efficiency motors amplifies savings. “Operators have reported between 10% to 30% in energy cuts, directly bolstering profitability in tariff-hiked markets.
The drive, Van Wyk highlights, also offers seamless integration with operating systems. “Working with platforms like FactoryTalk for centralised oversight, we have seen how commissioning is an absolute breeze. Our team of engineering specialists, who have in-depth knowledge of all of the industrial automation and control solutions, can also provide further support where needed.”
No matter what your application requirements may be, any unforeseen issues can compound under 24/7 pressure, turning assets into liabilities. “The PowerFlex 755TS is no ordinary VFD, it’s a next-generation powerhouse engineered to boost productivity, whether you’re hauling ore in the DRC or aggregates in South Africa,” concludes Van Wyk.
