Lamda Inc. is one of the most specialised companies in the East Macedonia
and Thrace area. The areas of specialisation include high technology
applications through design, implementations and installations of specific
application electronic systems. Lamda Inc. was established in 1994,
it was selected to be subsidised by the Law 1892/90 for development
and was certified by the Ministry of Industry, Research and Development
(Pr. No. 14798 / ?F?1784) as a high technology company. It has 6 employees
and an annual turnover of 160 KEURO.
Electronic engineering and construction of electronic systems is Lamda's
main sector. The skills the company had before the AE include PCB design
and computer programming. The company has many products targeted to
industry like: Voltage Stabilisers, Position Control Systems, Timers,
Computer controlled switches, Stepper Motor Controllers and DC motor
drivers. The main market is wide spread in the industrial sector although
the manufacturing industry needs more Lamda's end product.
The objective of the application experiment was to improve the electronics
in the existing voltage stabiliser system, in such a way to become more
efficient and capable of handling heavier loads. This product is used
to protect from the overvoltage the sensitive electronic equipment and
machinery.
The previous product incorporates conventional electronic technology
and out-dated power electronics components. To improve the product,
application experiment enhanced its electronic technology, introducing
the use of a microcontroller. The advanced electronics enabled the product
to be more efficient through modern digital control techniques. Furthermore,
the microcontroller has the advantage of direct control of switching
power electronics (TRIACS). The integration of the new technologies
improved the product making it lighter and capable of handling heavier
loads.
The objective of the application experiment was to (i) introduce advance
electronics in control (microcontroller) and switching power electronics
(TRIACS), (ii) to provide improved performance in heavier loads, to
assist in developing new export markets, and (iii) to reduce product
set up and servicing costs.
Some of the major the target qualifications are:
- Correction time < 15msec
- Distortion < 1%
- Output Voltage 3X230VAC ±2% typical, 400VAC
- Output voltage/current check
- Input voltage 180 ~260V (220V ±20%)
The application of microcontroller technology has produced the following
product improvements:
- Improved accuracy in the changing areas of the main transformer
- Improved product reliability, incorporating system self-diagnostic
facilities and algorithms to detect if the stabiliser is working of
limits and cut's it off.
- On line display of the input-output information and to differentiate
the product from competitor products.
- Reduced service costs.
- Improved programming mechanisms to prevent unauthorised reprogramming
of the control unit.
These additional product features provide new customer benefits and
product differentiation features that improve Lamda's market competitiveness.
The ability of the stabiliser to operate by digital control allows the
company to develop new markets for the product in the East Europe. The
application experiment was completed in 8 months, and cost 43.388 KECU
to complete. The payback period for the application experiment will
be 6 months, and the return on investment is 921% for three years product
life.
The product will have a street price around 650 000 GDR (2 000 EURO)
and the target is to double or better triple the market share.
Following the application experiment, Lamda is now capable of undertaking
the incremental design of the improved product for other applications,
and the manufacture of the new product.
