At the Inverness plant, the existing system for controlling three huge kiln fans to dry malted barley included an Alstom MV31131 variable-speed drive.
Although this equipment was still operational, it had reached an age whereby parts could no longer be sourced. Production demands meant Bairds could not afford to risk the kiln being out of action for an extended period, so the decision was made to replace the equipment with a modern ABB drive.
Gibbons took delivery of the 1,120kW low-voltage, low-harmonic drive, which at 3.5m long and weighing 3.5t was the largest it had ever handled.
The company removed the drive's internal modules to make the main unit lighter and easier to transport and install at Bairds's facility.
Once in place, Gibbons' engineers reinstalled the modules prior to testing and commissioning the drive.
Contact: Gibbons Engineering Group