At the beginning of 2013, Delta's Industrial Automation Business Unit officially became the Industrial Automation Business Group (IABG). At the same time, IABG's Motion System Product Division was also upgraded to the Industrial Motion System Business Unit (IMSBU).
The general manager of the IMSBU, Dr. David Tsai, recalled the origin of the IMSBU. “The IMSBU started as the New Product Development Division ten years ago before we joined the IABG. Our target for motion control development has always been very clear ever since,” said Dr. Tsai.
For the past ten years, the IMSBU followed the lead of the IABG. With the IABG's product line expansion from AC motor drives to programmable logic controllers (PLC), temperature controllers and pressure sensors, the IMSBU focused on the development of AC servo drives, motors and human machine interfaces (HMI). In recent years the IABG has achieved a healthy market share and an excellent reputation in the automation industry.
As a newly rising motion control system provider, the IMSBU is ready to face new challenges with innovation over the next ten years under Dr. Tsai's leadership. He shared his strategies for distributed motion control systems, four main master controllers and automated robots for this report.
Key to Leadership – Distributed Motion Control
Dr. Tsai's goal is for the IMSBU to help Delta's IABG become one of the leading brands in the motion control market over the next ten years. He decided to start from distributed motion control systems. He said, “Until now, most motion control systems in current markets have been centralized, and this means servo drives are only used for order taking and execution in the systems.”
Dr. Tsai thinks differently. “We need innovation and differentiation to create new business. The IMSBU has been working on the development of distributed motion control systems and related products for quite a while.”
The IMSBU began with building control functions in servo drives and launched the ASDA-M Series AC servo drive at the end of 2012. The ASDA-M Series has built-in PLC functions with 3-in-1 design. It can conduct programming and take orders for execution, and the 3-in-1 system can perform three-axis motion control. The control and programming functions of the ASDA-M Series impressed the “pure servo drive” markets. Dr. Tsai said, “Our servo drive with motion-control can work with a host controller to elevate solution performance and cost effectiveness.”
Four Main Host Controllers to Lead the Motion Control Industry
According to Dr. Tsai, the IMSBU will launch four main host controllers that will take IABG's motion control systems to a whole new level. The four controllers are: PLCs, programmable automation controllers (PAC), human machine interface controllers (HMC), and motion servo drive/motor drives with control functions such as Delta's IED Series elevator drive or ASDA-T Series tool magazine positioning control servo drive.
Combined with intelligent servo drives/motor drives with basic motion functions, such as e-Cam, the four host controllers can conduct distributed motion control and fulfill the needs of different equipment for various industries.
The IMSBU already has PLCs, HMCs and motion servo drives, and the PAC was the only missing part. In brief, a PAC is an industrial PC-based, or IPC-based, controller that combines the functions of PLC, motion and human machine interface. It has complete programming functions and is mainly applied to multi-axis synchronous equipment, such as electronic equipment manufacturing.
Electronic equipment manufacturers need various equipment and programs and change facilities frequently according to different orders. They require high flexibility and precision on equipment programs, so IPC-based controllers are their previous choices and thus PAC becomes priority.
To add PAC products and technology into the four host controllers, Delta established a joint venture, SYN-TEK Automation Co., Ltd. (SYN-TEK). The original R&D team of SYN-TEK was founded ten years ago for the development and manufacturing of motion cards, high-speed communication cards (DMCNET and EtherCAT) and PACs. It has in-depth technology for IPC-based motion controllers and also the automation markets.
For the IMSBU, working with SYN-TEK is a reciprocal relationship: SYN-TEK provides products and technologies to complete Delta's motion control product lines, while Delta helps SYN-TEK towards real markets. Dr. Tsai said, “We can get closer to customers in both product and market aspects. For strategic and marketing reasons, for now the PAC will be branded as SYN-TEK in Taiwan and Delta in the global markets.”
Seeing the Future – Automated Robot
Foreseeing automation industry changes in the next 5 to 10 years, the IMSBU has started development in automated robotic control technologies and has worked with Delta's new subsidiary, Delta Robot Automatics Co. Ltd., on automated robots design and manufacturing since 2012. (For more details, please go to: http://www.deltaww.com/news/pressDetail.aspx?secID=3&pID=1&typeID=6&itemID=2126&tid=0&hl=en-US).
Dr. Tsai pointed out that due to the rapid development and evolution of electronic components and automation technologies, the automation industry is facing another revolution in the near future. As global manufacturers demand high quality under forced shortages, production line automation becomes an unstoppable trend.
Dr. Tsai said, “We are seeing a bright future for automated robots with the era of fully automation production coming sooner than we expected.”
For now, the IMSBU is working closely with DRA on the development of Delta's automated robot arms. The IMSBU integrates its servo drive and controller and is developing a selective compliance assembly robot arm (SCARA) control system. With DRA's IPC-based controller and robot arm case design, the IMSBU and DRA will launch a one-for-all automated robot arm with simple installation, high flexibility and cost-effectiveness in 2014.
The new automated robot arm can be applied on the production lines of various industries.
Mastering Motion Control Markets with a CNC Solution
“In the motion control market, general motion control (GMC) takes 60% and computer numerical control (CNC) takes the rest 40%. We focused on the GMC with motion control products and solutions until we launched Delta's CNC solution in March 2012,” said Dr. Tsai.
Delta's CNC solution includes a controller, servo drive and motor, and Delta became one of the few companies that are able to provide a complete CNC solution in Asian markets. In the markets of Taiwan and China, Delta's CNC solution has had excellent sales since its launch, mainly applied in machining centers and tapping machines. Next year, Delta's CNC solution will focus on the application of lathes and it is expected to grow three times in 2014.
The technologies of the CNC system are much higher than the other products, so it requires longer development and stronger sales and technology support. Delta's sales and products teams in Taiwan and China worked closely to provide the sales and technical support for the CNC solution in both markets.
So far, Delta's CNC solution is getting more and more positive feedback, and customers have expressed their satisfaction with Delta's CNC solution and the expectation of more new products. Dr. Tsai said, “Our sales goal is 10,000 CNC units in 2017 and to become the leading CNC solution provider in China. Of course, Delta's CNC solution will go to global markets soon as we bring our latest efforts to the motion control industries!”