Wind turbines generate new business for FKI

FKI Industrial Drives (FID), the Loughborough-based drives manufacturer, is embarking on an extensive development programme to expand its range of power electronic products.

One particularly successful new area for the company has been airport baggage-handling applications. Around 5,000 of its integrated motor-inverters (IMIs) are currently being installed at Arlanda airport in Sweden, and at Brussels airport in Belgium. The IMI replaces a standard motor terminal box with a plug-in, IP55-protected, variable speed drive with Profibus communications. It simplifies site cabling, and removes the need for separate panels to house variable speed drives.

FID is also designing and manufacturing converters for another member of the FKI Energy Technology Group, DeWind, which is the UK`s largest wind turbine manufacturer. DeWind produces wind turbines (above) with output ratings from 600kW to 2MW.

FID has already supplied converters for DeWind`s 1.25MW range and is nearing completion on the development of a new power converter controller. A completely new converter is also being developed. FID expects derivatives of the wind turbine converter technology to generate opportunities in other power-related businesses.