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Product category: Industrial Motors
News Release from: Lafert Electric Motors | Subject: Electric motors
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial Team on 07 November 2007

Future developments for electric motors

Brian Bannister uses his crystal ball to predict forthcoming product developments in the motor sector.

Our specific industry, electrical rotating machinery or "motors" as we affectionately call it, has barely changed over the last 100 years in my opinion let alone within the last 21 (unlike drives and controls) with the exception of three key areas The first of these has brought major improvements to efficiencies

Directed by CEMEP, the aim of these design enhancements is the reduction of CO2 emissions and energy consumption throughout Europe.

Levels of efficiency were classified in the 1990s.

I expect that this aspect of motor design will continue to develop, hopefully with more encouragement from the Government as tax allowances and incentives - not only for the end users but also the OEMs.

Generally speaking, to date such rewards have only focused on the end user with the OEM's motivation being cost rather than efficiencies.

Secondly, and in some ways connected to the first, there has been increased interest in the renewable energy and "green" market.

Some motor manufacturers, including ourselves, are now producing hybrid products that when coupled with mechanical systems to harness the natural resources such as wind and water will actually produce "free" energy.

Examples of energy saving technology have now reached the shelves of retail outlets which makes them obtainable by the public and small businesses alike.

Again with a view to reducing CO2 emissions and cutting energy consumption, hybrid electric motors are being used to drive electric vehicles, from scooters to cars and even aeroplanes.

I am sure that over time we will finish up with charging points in major cities for our electrical vehicles that will be supplied by wind turbines and such like.

This will mean not only "free" travel but reduced CO2 emissions and hopefully reduced levels of damage to the ozone layer.

Finally, within the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industry, there has been strong recognition for needed improvements to hygiene standards.

This requirement has been emphasised in recent years with major players in those industries being either sued or having major product recalls resulting in huge losses.

Our industry has done its best to help alleviate this situation by producing smooth-bodied motors using stainless-steel housings and shafts, together with increased IP ratings.

Although this huge improvement in product material and quality obviously results in additional costs the extra investment is justified by increased longevity and reduced downtime.

Our hope is that over the next 5 to 10 years that bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, The Society of Food Hygiene and Technology and the Food Standards Agency will acknowledge that such motor designs will solve and help with many of the hygiene issues that they come across daily and do something to recognise, certify and promote that this style of product must be used in critical areas.

As it stands today, we are slipping behind many other countries such as the USA and Australia where HACCP really means something and products can be manufactured to meet standards and achieve the approval of a controlling body.

In the UK, and even Europe as a whole, electric motors don't seem to be identified as a product that gives a hygiene risk even though they are often directly above or below the production line where cooling fins can catch and accumulate waste to create a health hazard.

Further, standard IP ratings preclude the use of high pressure hoses and caustic solutions inhibiting effective cleaning of fins and other waste traps.

The limited cleaning options for standard motors have meant that some processing plants have resorted to "bagging" - covering the motors with polythene bags during hosedown operations and then removing the bags for manual cleaning of the motors.

Obviously this doesn't help with the bugs that are being harboured in any rotten food that sits on warm electric motors for days on end.

I really hope both as a consumer and an engineer that relevant people sit up and listen to this issue before it is too late and people are made seriously ill or worse through complacency of the industry.

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