SEW-EURODRIVE, a global leader in drive engineering, has been recognized by Frost and Sullivan for its pioneering work in the development of the world’s first truly mechatronic drive system. The company cited MOVIGEAR, which integrates motor, drive and matching drive electronics in a single compact housing, with its Product Innovation of the Year award. 

“Thanks to pioneering new technology – including single line installation – MOVIGEAR offers a number of benefits over conventional drive solutions” said Frost and Sullivan industry analysts Suman Bhaskar and Kaushik Ghosh, who conducted the European market survey that singled out SEW’s innovative drive. The award cited the compact design, high overload capacity, short commissioning and start-up times, low noise emissions and smooth housing design of MOVIGEAR, predicting that it will also mean lower installation and energy costs for customers.  

In contrast to current decentralized automation technology, which relies on two separate cables for energy and communication, the single line technology deployed with MOVIGEAR uses one cable, reducing the complications and cost of on-site installations. This simplified system structure can reduce the duration of startups from weeks to a matter of days.  

MOVIGEAR provides a combination of energy-efficiency, hygienic protection and functionality within a single drive that has never been achieved before. It is designed for use in a wide range of horizontal conveyor applications, including automotive assembly, food and beverage, airport logistics and package and parcel handling. 

Frost and Sullivan pointed out that MOVIGEAR can reduce overall costs for customers, even though component costs are slightly higher than those for conventional drive solutions. This is due to the high-quality network characteristics and control concepts of the design. These reduce startup time considerably and minimize monitoring and maintenance tasks. 

By creating a pre-integrated drive system which functions within the enclosed environment of a housing, MOVIGEAR components are matched to application requirements. Since each component operates more efficiently, the resulting drive system uses less energy. That, along with lower maintenance costs, will lower equipment operating costs.