When looking for a drive solution, people always start with standard drives, as they are inexpensive and readily available. However, in demanding environments, developers and machine builders often underestimate the requirements, making it necessary to assess a bespoke solution at a later stage; otherwise, there is a risk of costly downtime or inconsistent performance. This article explains when standard solutions fail and why bespoke drive solutions can be the more cost-effective answer.
Standard drive systems that do not take the specific application into account fail in demanding environments because they are rarely designed to cope with temperature, contamination, continuous operation and precise safety requirements. Customised drives, on the other hand, take the environment, load profile and standards into account from the outset and can deliver precisely tailored energy efficiency, reliability and service life.
Typical challenges for standard drives
- High or low temperatures: Extreme temperatures can lead to material fatigue, lubrication issues and premature failures. Choosing the right components and materials, and ensuring well-designed system integration, are crucial.
- Moisture and dirt: Dust, oils or water can clog standard drives and cause corrosion or short circuits.
- Continuous operation & vibrations: In conveyor systems and production lines in particular, minor stresses can quickly add up to cause significant damage.
- Precision requirements: Applications such as dosing machines or precision manufacturing require consistent performance, which standard drives are unable to deliver depending on the requirements.
When standard solutions are not enough
A conveyor belt in food production can operate reliably in normal conditions – but in damp or hot environments, signs of wear and tear become apparent relatively early on. Errors in sizing, inadequate protection ratings or a lack of adaptation lead to costly downtime and additional maintenance costs.
The precise calculation, optimisation and integration of drive solutions, as well as the selection of suitable components, are therefore essential to meeting the requirements for performance, energy efficiency and service life.
Customised drives as problem-solvers
Customised drives are tailored to the specific requirements of an application and environment and optimised to fit perfectly. They offer:
- taking the entire powertrain into account
- an extended service life
- precise adjustment to temperature, load and environmental conditions
- built-in sensors and monitoring capabilities
The development of such drive solutions involves the application of modern methods, the integration of electronics, the selection of suitable drive components such as gearboxes and encoders, and the implementation of bespoke designs and configurations. Through close collaboration with customers, we deliver products and projects that are perfectly tailored to the specific sectors, machines and applications.
Manufacturing is carried out in accordance with the highest quality standards, with a focus on the reliability and energy efficiency of the systems. Research and optimisation of interfaces, geometry and system integration ensure a reliable energy supply, efficient operation and maximum thrust – even when compared to standard solutions. This is underpinned by a well-thought-out approach that spans the entire process from concept through calculation to implementation, taking all relevant components into account.
This results in innovative drive technology solutions that offer benefits such as flexibility, reliability and a long service life, and are suitable for a wide range of applications – from smart homes to the food industry, in vacuum environments or under demanding conditions.
