Vacon UK division debuts with new software toolset

Finnish drives manufacturer Vacon is making its UK exhibition debut at Drives and Controls, marking the formation of its UK dedicated sales office and service centre. The firm sees the UK as a vital link in its ambitious expansion plans.

Founded in 1993 by thirteen ex-ABB employees, Vacon aims to capture 3 per cent of the global drives market within the next five years (see PE February, p12). Its keys to this performance are in keeping its corporate structure as `low and light' as possible - the company says it allows every employee to become involved in several different processes. It also invests heavily in R&D, with some 9 per cent of turnover ploughed back into research. However, much R&D is subcontracted, such as design of programming, circuits and constructionand production, while the firm's own R&D lab concentrates on motor testing, looking at load capacity, temperature rises, and adjustment dynamics. The company also retains strong research links with Tampere University of Technology (whose students designed the company's typically-Finnish sauna suite) and local polytechnics.

Among the products Vacon is exhibiting at the show are its CK range of frequency converters, which cover the 0.37kW-1.5MW range. These devices use open-loop vector control, a fast ASIC circuit and current measurement in all three output phases.

The show also features a demonstration of the CX range's software application and engineering toolset, designated FC1131-3. Vacon claims this is `possibly the most user friendly, yet comprehensive programming tool in the world.'

Vacon is keen to point out its track record in product quality. In the five years it has been trading, the company has sold over 75,000 drives and has never had a product recall. Its local and international support is another source of pride - stocks kept at its Vaasa plant ensure that a malfunctioning drive can almost always be replaced within 24 hours.