Phoenix Contact, a global market provider in components, systems and solutions in electrotechnology, electronics and automation, and Eaton announced they have concluded a cooperation agreement on the electronic Contactron motor starter with SmartWire-DT that provides for the development and commercial exploitation of industrial, electronic switchgear and communications systems.
The objective of the collaboration is the development and implementation of a joint strategy on Contactron electronic motor starters and the establishment of SmartWire-DT as a new standard in the communications interface for intelligent switchgear. According to the companies, both products, Phoenix Contact’s Contactron electronic starter motor and Eaton’s communications and interconnection concept, SmartWire-DT, set new standards for size, interconnection technology, robustness and reliability. The advantages for mechanical and systems engineers are lower space requirements, reduced wiring and high levels of durability.
“In the smallest possible space, our Contactron electronic motor starters integrate motor switching and protective functions which were previously separately set up and wired with several traditional switchgear units,” says Roland Bent, managing director of Phoenix Contact. “They thereby revolutionize the power wiring in the control cabinet. The combination with Eaton’s innovative SmartWire-DT technology now also replaces the complex parallel cabling of the control and signal functions of the switchgear units with a genuine lean connectivity system. The combination of SmartWire-DT and Contactron technology will enable Eaton and Phoenix Contact in collaboration to considerably streamline control cabinet installation in industry.”
“The addition to our product range of electronic Contactron motor starters with SmartWire-DT is a logical step for us in making our strategy ‘from lean connectivity to lean automation’ even more attractive to our customers,” says Richard Boulter, senior vice president, Industrial Control Division, Eaton. “With it, we can offer both safe, efficient products and compelling end-to-end solutions around the world. Both companies are pooling their respective strengths in high-quality new solutions in the installation and control of electronic motor starters, and the market will reward us for this.”
Phoenix Contact says its hybrid motor starters combine the advantages of electromechanical and electronic switchgear in a single device, thereby providing a long service life and low dissipation. The low-wear motor starters feature four functions (clockwise / counterclockwise / motor protection / emergency stop) in a device 22.5 mm wide. The integrated safety functions are designed to guarantee an emergency stop without additional elements. According to the company, Contactron motor starters save up to 75 percent in terms of space and wiring compared to conventional switchgear units.
