Automation & robotics
Motor and drive retrofits
Replacement and upgrade of ageing motors, starters and drives on existing machines, typically adding variable speed control, modern protection and communication while reusing as much of the installed equipment as practical.
Overview
A motor and drive retrofit replaces obsolete or failing starters, drives or motors on existing equipment. Common scopes include converting direct-on-line or star-delta starters to variable frequency drives, replacing drives that are no longer supported, swapping motors for current designs, and adding fieldbus communication so the drive can be monitored from the PLC or SCADA. Retrofits are usually planned around production schedules to limit downtime.
Planning a retrofit
Survey the existing motor nameplates, starters or drives, cabling, panel space and control interfaces. Confirm the load type and duty, whether existing motors are suitable for drive operation, cable lengths and screening, harmonic and EMC considerations, and the shutdown window available for installation and commissioning.
Range overview
- Types and variants
- Starter to VFD Conversion
- Obsolete Drive Replacement
- Motor Replacement
- Drive Communication Upgrade
- Features
- Site Survey of Existing Equipment
- Reuse of Suitable Existing Components
- Fieldbus Integration
- Planned Shutdown Installation
Exact specifications depend on the variant, material and size. Confirm ratings and certification against the datasheet or with our engineers before ordering.
Applications
- Pumps
- Fans
- Conveyors
- Compressors
- Process Machinery
Industries
- Manufacturing
- Water and wastewater
- HVAC
- Material handling
Information that speeds up a quotation
Share what you know. Anything you are unsure of can be marked “not known” — our engineers will help confirm it.
- Machine
- Control requirements
- I/O count
- Communications
- Power
- Safety
- Existing system
- Uptime
Need a datasheet?
Add this family to your enquiry list and mention the variant — we will send the relevant technical documents.
Industrial automation
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Frequently asked questions
What information do you need for a retrofit proposal?
Provide motor and existing drive or starter nameplate details, photographs of the panel and wiring, the load and how it is operated, cable lengths, and how the drive is controlled today. Tell us the outage window available and whether the drive must communicate with a PLC or SCADA system.
Can an existing motor be run from a new VFD?
Often it can, but motor age, insulation condition, cooling at low speed and cable length all need checking. Older motors may need additional output filtering or replacement. A site survey and review of the motor data lets this be assessed before the retrofit scope is fixed.
Ready to specify motor and drive retrofits?
Send the details you have — quantities, sizes, drawings or a part number. Unknowns are fine.