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The New Year’s Ball Drop wouldn’t be possible without a sophisticated electromechanical system that must operate reliably during the most critical 60 seconds of the year.
April 6, 2023
More than a billion people around the world unite to ring in the New Year, their eyes set upon the glittering New Year’s Ball in Manhattan. Thousands are gathered at Times Square — the famed “Bow Tie” of Midtown — braving the December cold and peering through glasses with numerically shaped frames. Millions more tune in from their various screens at home. With so much riding on its descent, the Ball, along with the mechanical and electrical systems responsible for its operation, must operate like clockwork.
Much of the industrial energy being
consumed by systems is wasted through inefficiency. For this article, a system will be defined as the following components working together: electrical input power, variable frequency drives, induction motors, gearboxes and transmission elements
(chains, belts, etc.).
Few industries are experiencing change quite as fast as the packaging arena. Lighter-weight containers are being
introduced to reduce costs and energy use, packaging is being redesigned to attract consumer attention and manufacturers are using fewer materials in an effort to address environmental concerns.