SIPOS Aktorik’s variable speed actuators have been selected for a prestigious installation completed at the fourth largest sewage treatment plant in Australia. The company’s actuation technology supports a USD 150 million improvement programme at the North Head STP in Sydney. The order was secured via Barron GJM, SIPOS’ agent in Australia. As part of the upgrade, 40 SIPOS actuators have been installed around a sedimentation tank. Key reasons given for selection of SIPOS’ products to replace existing actuation technology were incorporation of Profibus DP fieldbus technology and software programming flexibility to meet the requirements of Sydney Water’s SCADA control system. Weyand Magnaye, Water Products Manager of Barron GJM Pty Ltd, said that, because of the power/control cables being new, Profibus DP was the chosen solution for data communication. With just two cores and reduced labour, savings would be made both in terms of resource and termination of wires. A second phase has been meeting the SCADA requirements of the scheme. This has been achieved by SIPOS writing bespoke software and with Barron providing technical support. Barron confirms that Profibus has been the ideal platform to ensure total control of the actuator by the Master (SCADA). The fieldbus technology has been advantageous as it automates local control functionality in the event of ‘wire break’ and responds to actuator software modifications.