TOSHIBA MOTORS AND DRIVES TO THRIVE AS STANDARDS RISE Worldwide efficiency standards dictate that New Zealand and Australia will, in the near future, need to adopt the much higher IE3 MEPS-3 Standard for premium efficiency motors. 22 August 2016 P O W E R S Y S T E M S Gustav Eiselen gets a first hand look at motor efficiency testing at Toshiba's test facility in Sydney, Australia. Low Voltage, Low Motors and Drives up to 1,500 kW www.nzind.co.nz Gustav Eiselen minces no words, there’s winds of change about to set upon the local industrial motors and drives scene as Europe battles to meet new eco design regulations. Europe’s electric motor efficiency regulations that came into force at the start of 2015 have not resulted in the expected boost to sales of high-efficiency IE3 motors. Under the Ecodesign regulations, common types of motor with ratings up to 375kW placed on the market since January 2015 must either meet the IE3 efficiency level, or meet the lower IE2 level and be fitted with a VSD (variable-speed drive). In the next phase of the Ecodesign regulations, which comes into force at the start of 2017, the ratings of motors covered will be extended down to 750W. The option of either buying an IE3 motor or using an IE2 machine with a VSD will remain but, from 2018, the European Commission will eliminate the IE2+VSD option. Mr Eiselen says that the new standards provide a perfect time for New Zealand Industrial Electric Co (NZIND) to shine under its appointment as the master distribution agent for Toshiba in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. All motors sold in Europe from January 2015 have to meet the stringent IE3 standards up to and inclusive of 375kW and these new standards will result in New Zealand and Australia being forced to tow the line in the near future, and adopt the much higher IE3 MEPS-3 Standard for premium efficiency motors. “This represents a major shift in the market and will present a challenge to all motor suppliers in New Zealand and Australia. The new standard no longer allows ‘Test Method B’, which allowed suppliers to use assumed figures for their testing calculations,” says Mr Eiselen. In his role as sales and marketing manager with the 100% New Zealand owned and operated NZIND, Mr Eiselen explains that for Toshiba to partner with the Kiwi company it meant a new design of a number of its motors to ensure “we not only met, but exceeded the requirements of the higher MEPS-3 standard”. According to Mr Eiselen, the decision to represent Toshiba products, especially the motor division, was not taken lightly. “We have a very mature market in New Zealand with a number of established brands. The differentiator for us will be the fact that Toshiba offers a genuine world leading alternative to current brands and those on offer in New Zealand.” He says that Toshiba has long been regarded as one of the premium brands in motors and drive technology worldwide and is not a new brand in New Zealand, by any stretch. Some of the largest industrial installations in the pulp and paper industry, power generation steel manufacturing, oil and gas have Toshiba motors as part of their primary plant. NZIND represents the industrial range of Toshiba products, with “our main focus on electric motors and drives. Our offering also includes a range of instrumentation and award winning LED industrial lighting products”. Mr Eiselen says that local industry in New Zealand, such as those involved in electrical engineering, are continually looking to future proof plant and control equipment. With new standards on the horizon, today when buying a new motor there is a need to satisfy yourself that you are buying a product that will meet future efficiency standards. “Motors supplied in New Zealand are dynamically balanced to ISO 1940 G2.5. All Toshiba motors are dynamically balanced in the factory to ISO 1940 G1.0. A higher balance grade is a huge benefit to clients - reducing vibration and extending the life of the motor bearings. This is a very significant differentiator for Toshiba.” Mr Eiselen explains that NZIND stocks over 1000 motors in its central North Island warehouse and services the South Island, lower North Island and central North Island. NZIND has appointed a reseller - Rotech Pacific, who stock motors for NZIND’s Auckland and Northland customers. Rotech Pacific
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