Today efficiency is a very important issue, not only because of the environmental benefit by reducing a companies carbon footprint, but to keep business costs down due to spiralling material and energy prices. It’s probably true that many manufacturers tend to look at the up-front costs rather than the total outlay over a period of time.

The Wittenstein Gearheads from Energywize are products that are already highly efficient but by specifying more carefully huge long term savings can be made. For example by selecting a 3:1 SP180 MC High-Speed rather than an SP180 MF version, the no-load running torque is reduced by 4Nm. What this therefore achieves, is that by running on a constant 2500rpm on the input will result in approximately 1kW savings per hour. Therefore on a 24hours 7days a week production line, based on 1kW = 10p means there is a saving of a staggering £875!

Amazingly the MC version only costs in the region of £170 more than the MF version. In addition the MC has a life estimation of 30,000 plus hours compared to 20,000 plus hours for the MF thus giving savings for even longer production times.

In this respect it is alarming to consider the wasted costs of less efficient gearboxes, especially say worm technology which have up to 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% losses.

The current drive to save the planet makes the Wittenstein solution most appropriate by using a gearhead whose heart is a sun gear surrounded by planet gears – the energy efficient planetary gearhead!

If you wish to know more about these products then contact Stirling Morley on 01376 333333 or email stirling@micromech.co.uk

‘Energy Matters’