GAMBICA launches VSD energy savings calculator

The national organisation, which represents the interests of instrumentation, control, automation and laboratory technology industries in the UK, developed the software on behalf of the members of its VSD group. Steve Brambley, deputy director of GAMBICA, explains that the calculator allows potential buyers to make an informed decision before purchasing a VSD for their electric motor-driven application. He makes the point that it is intended as a first-pass indication tool, to help plant engineers decide if a VSD will bring energy savings, and adds that the calculator can also help estimate what payback period can be expected, making it clearer that a VSD represents a guaranteed investment. "Energy saving is currently a high priority on the British and EU agendas, and VSDs are gradually being recognised as one of the most important tools for cutting energy costs," states Brambley. "We hope this new tool will encourage non-technical people, particularly in purchasing departments, to embrace the technology." The energy saving calculator can be downloaded for free from the GAMBICA website at http://www.gambica.org.uk/vsdcalculator .