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Elec adds a virtual exhibition to give an extra shop window

01 January, 2001

Elec, the main French exhibition for the electrical and automation industries, is introducing a on-line version to give exhibitors a shop-window between the shows which are held every other year. The "virtual exhibition" is due to go live in the middle of this year.

The real exhibition, which took place in Paris in December, confirmed its place as one of Europe`s largest exhibitions in this sector. It occupied more than 120,000m² - some 20% more than in 1998 - with almost 1,000 stands and more than 2,000 exhibitors. Although French exhibitors dominated, there were 84 from the UK - the third-largest, non-French contingent.

One of the largest stands was that of Schneider Electric. It devoted considerable space to its TeSys motor control and protection system first shown at the Hanover Fair. Schneider claims that the system`s cable-less Quickfit technology minimises the risks of cabling errors and can halve installation times. The system includes contactors rated up to 18.5kW.

Schneider was also showing its Altivar 28 range of flux vector variable speed drives, covering ratings up to 15kW, which it claims are the smallest on the market.

Brook Crompton was exhibiting its T range of standard efficiency motors to run alongside its high-efficiency W series. The T range spans ratings from 0.18-200kW, all of which fall within the Eff2 band in the European motor efficiency labelling scheme.

SEW was showing its first linear motor, developed with a German partner, specifically for baggage-handling applications. The motor can accelerate at up to 10G and has a top speed of 10m/s.

Elsewhere on its stand, SEW was demonstrating a distributed drive system which allows the inverter to be placed near the motor, and cuts cabling. It offers a choice of Profibus, ASi or Interbus communications.

On its home turf, Leroy-Somer unveiled several new ranges including a high-efficiency (Eff1) family of induction machines called Eco+, self-synchronising servo gear motors, an asynchronous motor with an electromechanical brake, a wormgear motor for the food industry, and a small variable speed drive for asynchronous motors rated from 0.25-0.75kW