Fail-safe actuators: With KEB brakes in the pipeline
Schiebel Antriebstechnik relies on COMBINORM B
Actuators are among the components that are not the first to be the focus of public attention, yet they fulfil particularly relevant tasks. The Austrian company Schiebel Antriebstechnik is well aware of this. Schiebel's actuators rely on electromagnetic brakes from KEB Automation. For use in power stations, in the water and waste water sector or in oil and gas applications, the actuators must be one thing above all: safe and reliable.
In its more than 65 years of existence, Schiebel Antriebstechnik from Vienna has developed into a pioneer in drive technology. Today, the company is at home all over the world with its innovative actuators, for example in pipelines, and employs more than 100 people. One of the core elements of Schiebel's product range is the fail-safe series – a concept that combines an individually configurable electric actuator with a purely mechanical safety function that is therefore independent of the power supply. “The advantage of our fail-safe series is that in the event of a power failure, valves can be moved to a predefined position in less than a second – and with maximum precision,” says Klaus Schiebel, CEO of the Viennese family business.
Precision and reliability are exactly the reasons why Schiebel decided in favour of KEB Automation when selecting the right brakes. After all, if the power supply fails, the drive stops – a situation that can quickly lead to very high costs in applications such as an oil field or a gas pipeline and should therefore be avoided at all costs. KEB supplies the suitable brake solution for these requirements.
Extreme environmental conditions for the actuators
“We realise Schiebel's actuators with the COMBINORM B electromagnetic brake,” says Robert Kwich, Sales Area Manager East at KEB Austria.
“We use the brake in sizes 6 to 9 to keep the integrated spring-return mechanism in place with a sufficient power supply.” The COMBINORM B open-circuit brake is designed for one hundred per cent duty cycle and, with short switching times, excellent positioning accuracy and availability in a wide temperature and voltage range, is ideal for use in Schiebel's solutions. In around 15 years of working together, Schiebel and KEB have harmonised the products so that they meet the requirements of the actuators and ensure reliable and energy-efficient operation. “Our customers expect the highest quality and reliability,” says Schiebel. With the COMBINORM B, KEB supplies a brake that promises reliable hold even under these extreme environmental conditions. This is quite a demanding task, considering that Schiebel's actuators are operated both in the gas fields of northern Canada at temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius and in environments with temperatures as high as plus 50 degrees Celsius.
A good product is not everything
In the end, it is not only the product-specific properties of the KEB brakes that lay the foundation for the customer relationship between KEB and Schiebel. “A good product isn't everything, it's about the overall package. We appreciate the reliable service and have a direct contact person for any concerns. And since our Fail-safe series is a customised product, the technical advice and experience from KEB was also very helpful,” says Schiebel. Robert Kwich adds: “We place great importance on remaining in close contact with our customers even after commissioning and offering the best possible support. Schiebel and KEB are very similar in this quality mindset.”
Good to know
The COMBINORM B is KEB's “anti-remanence brake”
If dynamic braking processes occur in an application, the housing of the brake becomes magnetically charged. This remanence can lead to restrictions within the machine or system and consequently to increased costs. A “facelift” of the COMBINORM B electromagnetic brake prevents remanence from occurring in the first place. In addition, the underlying mode of operation noticeably extends the service life of important components. Find out more here.