Control Techniques, part of the Nidec group of companies, is launching a new member to the Commander family of drives and a revolutionary app named Marshal. 

Commander S provides a solution for applications that require plug-and-play control convenience straight from the box. It’s easy to install, easy to use, reliable and cost effective.  

Commander S is the first drive to come with an app interface as a standard feature at no extra cost. Marshal revolutionises how the user interfaces with the drive covering commissioning, monitoring, diagnostics and support. 

Powered by NFC technology, Marshal will be the user’s drive expert in the field. Marshal allows power on/off commissioning, even when the drive is still in the box; cloning – parameters can be transferred  from one drive to another; diagnostics – Marshal provides real time diagnostics even when the drive is powered off and step by step instructions will help the user  fix the problem and get the drive running again; the user also can easily share wiring diagrams and drive configurations as a PDF file via email or WhatsApp  or other messenger app. 

The robust click-on/off DIN rail mounting makes it easy for end-users to install the drive, and Commander S’ small footprint and side by side installation saves cabinet space where this is at a premium. The terminal designations are laser printed for easy identification, and offset angled terminals allow easy screw access and cable entry.

Marshal is the easiest and fastest way to communicate with Commander S. Available for Android and iOS, it enables drive set-up in only 60 seconds using NFC technology, along with providing simple set-up routines tailored to different applications. The FastStart menu, accessible via Marshal, provides assisted commissioning, and only four key settings are needed to get the motor running. 

Commander S uses the latest generation of components and innovative ways of manufacturing. A conformal coating process protects the drive against moisture, corrosion, and dust to meet long term robustness and reliability standards Control Techniques is known for.  And to further strengthen that message, we offer a free 5 year warranty, just as we do with all our general purpose drives. 

Commander S is optimised for simple applications with a suitable feature set. To help reduce overall costs for the user, several essential features are built-in the drive, such as intelligent fan control, onboard Modbus RTU and integrated C1 EMC filter. 

The new Commander S also meets the energy efficiency requirements set by the EU Ecodesign regulation. 

Commander S is available in 3 frame sizes with a power range of 0.18 kW to 4 kW (0.25 to 5 hp).

Anthony Pickering, President of Control Techniques, highlights the presence of NFC in daily life and how this technology brings a disruptive user experience in the market for general purpose drives.  

“NFC is in all our lives, and we use it to make payments at a shop, for example. We knew this was the technology to go for, and we’ve adapted it for Commander S. That is disruptive for the industry and changes the whole customer experience, from installation to programming”, said Anthony Pickering, president of Control Techniques; “The innovation we are bringing to the market is a constant development of our products and surrounding services, and we are proud of what we’ve achieved with this new drive.”

“Commander S gives you fast installation and programming, gets the job done, and it’s green! This colour takes us back to our heritage as in the early days of Control Techniques, we were known as the green drive company. And as part of our ongoing development, we believe our heritage is important; what we take to the future is what we’ve learned in the past and making it green is a mark that shows we’ve recognised all that knowledge and development over the years.”