Three-phase power is often unavailable in rural and remote locations, which is a primary reason why farmers struggle to grow their operations. Any farm looking to run larger fans and motors to help increase storage and handling capacity have thus far been forced into using traditional solutions such as rotary phase converters, which are costly, have big capacitor banks and a high amp draw, running up electricity bills and erasing profits. Now, however, increasing numbers are turning to the latest Mitsubishi Electric variable frequency drives (VFDs), which allow a three-phase motor to run from a single-phase electric supply without a phase converter, facilitating greater power and lower energy consumption.
The application of e-F@ctory at Mitsubishi Electric’s Kani manufacturing facility, part of its Nagoya Works, Japan, has led to a number of hugely beneficial outcomes. For instance, by redesigning the process and reintegrating a human element where there was once 100% automation, a single line that previously occupied 280sqm has been reduced to a cell of just 44.1sqm. This 84% reduction in space means that the productivity of each square metre of production hall had been increased through greater utilisation.
