Melbourne, Australia – Nord Drivesystems, the full-scale drive systems provider, will expand its IE3 premium efficiency motor range to also include smaller motor powers from January 2016. Available as an alternative to its comprehensive IE2 motor range, the smaller-sized IE3 portfolio with rated power from 0.12 kW to 0.75 kW – which finds use across a large share of all drive applications – will make it easier to equip entire plants with eco-friendly, highly efficient drive systems. 

Whilst the efficiency percentiles for this performance class have only been defined in the last stage of the European Union Ecodesign Directive for electric motors and have only recently been introduced into the international standard IEC 60034-30-1, legally there is no immediate need to act on motors this small as IE3 requirements within the EU only apply to motors rated at 7.5 kW or higher. Even in 2017, when smaller performance ratings are due to be included, this will only extend to 0.75 kW or larger systems. However, the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE) has identified in its Lot 30 consultation forum that motors below 750 W should be included in the quest to have only one eco-design regulation on electric motors ranging from 0.12 kW to 1000 kW. 

Users with a particular concern for the environment and those seeking to truly maximise efficiency may wish to go beyond current legal obligations will find that Nord Drivesystems now enables them to pursue ecological solutions throughout all drive applications. Nord supplies the compact IE3 motors in IEC frame sizes. Changing the specifications to IE3 is a smooth process that will not require physical design changes to machinery and equipment. 

Nord manufactures a comprehensive range of IE2, IE3 and IE4 efficiency class motors up to 200 kW, gearmotors motors up to 242,000 Nm and frequency inverters up to 160 kW.