Magnetek, Inc. and Eaton Corp. have entered into an agreement whereby Magnetek will provide sales, support and service of Eaton direct dc (DDC) drives to the crane and hoist industry.
Already North America's leading supplier of ac crane control systems, Magnetek will take over exclusive responsibility for design, manufacturing, sales and service of integrated DDC drive systems incorporating Eaton components under the Magnetek OmniPulse™ brand name. Magnetek provides a full complement of integrated overhead material handling control solutions, including drives, accessories and remote radio controls for crane and hoist automation.
The Respondor DDC, from Eaton's Cutler-Hammer business, is a microprocessor based, solid-state, four-quadrant dc-dc drive designated specifically for the unique needs of crane control applications within the primary metals industry. Built to withstand harsh mill environments, the Respondor DDC adapts seamlessly to existing crane control schemes. The Respondor DDC is designed to be a drop-in replacement for electromechanical systems using all existing connections so retrofits are simplified while system protective features are retained.
According to the companies, DDC control systems are expected to displace traditional DC technology in the overhead material handling and industrial process control markets. There are some 3,000 active cranes running in North America alone with traditional DC controls that could be retrofitted over time.
