Control energy flow with peak shaving

SEW-Eurodrive’s Jeremy McCullough demonstrates energy management at Automate 2026

Managing energy spikes and maintaining operational reliability are constant challenges with industrial equipment. In this video demonstration from Automate 2026, SEW-Eurodrive’s Jeremy McCullough uses a palletizer gantry to showcase Power and Energy Solutions designed to control energy flow, optimize infrastructure costs and safeguard processes against unexpected electrical disruptions. McCullough also answered questions about drives and digital twins in this Q&A.

At the heart of the system is peak shaving, made possible by integrated capacitor modules that act as a high-efficiency energy buffer. Typically, machinery must be built to accommodate maximum peak power demands. By limiting incoming grid power and letting the capacitor modules absorb the high-demand peak load, facilities can drastically downsize their electrical infrastructure. For example, a system that would normally require a 100-kW power section can be scaled down to a 25-kW nominal supply without compromising performance.

Beyond energy optimization, the system provides operational resilience during power outages. Standard high-voltage servo systems often crash or come to a sudden, damaging halt when power flickers or fails. With the capacitor bus serving as a backup buffer, the machine can ride out brief power blips. During extended outages, the system monitors its dropping charge, completes its current move and comes to a safe, controlled park, preventing process damage and ensuring a smooth restart once grid power is restored.

About the Author

Mike Bacidore

Editor in Chief

Mike Bacidore is chief editor of Control Design and has been an integral part of the Endeavor Business Media editorial team since 2007. Previously, he was editorial director at Hughes Communications and a portfolio manager of the human resources and labor law areas at Wolters Kluwer. Bacidore holds a BA from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. He is an award-winning columnist, earning multiple regional and national awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. He may be reached at [email protected] 

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