Improving technology
saving expense

IDC developed a new range of motor control units for Control Techniques plc (CT), a world leader in the design and production of electronic drives.

The brief was to design and develop motor control units in four different frame sizes, to conform to UL type 1 enclosures to target the important American market. The product was intended for industrial use, needed to be well styled, easy to use by operators, and share a common interface across the range.

An important consideration of the new design was the heat sink on which the circuitry was mounted. IDC developed a high-pressure die-casting for the frame with an injection-moulded enclosure produced in two parts with snap fit assembly.

IDC's design was successful in achieving all technical requirements, and at the same time made the unit less expensive and faster to assemble than previous versions.

Die Casting was chosen as it gave increased design flexibility; allowing many features to be built into the part and making it the main building block or backbone of the project.

IDC was able to recommend production solutions that reduced component count and eliminated many fixings thereby reducing assembly time and unit cost.