Motion & Drives Technology revolutionises shop floor efficiency and productivity

By OEM Update Editorial April 1, 2023 7:03 pm IST

Omron’s Motion & Drives technology is revolutionising shop floors by combining Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) with drives to enhance equipment efficiency, improve precision and positioning, increase speed, and provide smarter torque controls. With innovative features such as speed, accuracy, space-saving, flexibility, and customised solutions, this cutting-edge technology transforms industries such as packaging, material handling, inspection, robotics, and automotive and food & beverage manufacturing. Let’s explore how Omron’s Motion & Drives technology adds value to shop floors and revolutionises the automation industry.

Using Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) with drives is a crucial component of the automation ecosystem on a shop floor. This combination enhances equipment efficiency by saving energy, improving precision and positioning, increasing speed, and providing smarter torque controls to meet cost and productivity goals. Drives regulate and control the rotation of equipment such as fans, conveyors, pumps, and machine spindles.

One example of a drive is the Variable Frequency Drive, which saves energy by consuming only the necessary power and provides better motor control, a simplified user interface, and the ability to perform more complex applications. Another example is the Servo drive, which positions a motor shaft using control signals precisely, making  it ideal for robotics and high-speed machines. This feature is particularly useful for controlling a robot arm or positioning a conveyor for item picking or placing.

Drives can also interpret and analyse different indicators with the advent of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The growth of the drives business is driven by application-based segments such as packaging, material handling, inspection,  robotics, and the automotive and food & beverage manufacturing sectors.
Omron’s Motion & Drives portfolio includes Servo Systems, Motion Controllers, and Frequency Inverters that provide speed, accuracy, space-saving, flexibility, and customised technology to meet specific load conditions and add value to shop floors.