Motor output highlights upscale types

	Shengzhou City Dongfang's YYS180-4 model boasts 120W power output and 1.6A rated current.

Makers are enhancing product features and performance to cater to applications with stricter requirements.

Suppliers of AC motors in China are moving toward high-end units, driven by increased demand for models boasting elevated efficiency and performance, and longer life span. Some manufacturers have developed variants with 70 percent efficiency, surpassing the typical rate of 60 percent.

Makers are likewise reducing noise and dimensions to follow trends for more compact kinds. W&W Motor Co. Ltd focuses on the second. It is also looking to improve the qualification rate of shaded pole motors, which constitute 80 percent of its output at present.

Companies are responding to buyers’ divergent needs and developing applications outside of the traditional fields. W&W’s model YJF48/16 shaded pole motor can feature clockwise or counterclockwise rotation with continuous current. The manufacturer also customizes actual load, voltage and shaft length. Dongchang has shifted production to upscale electric wheelchair and massage chair motors from mainstream home appliances and office equipment to take advantage of the category’s popularity overseas. It is also developing units for kitchen elevators.

Enterprises make sure selections conform to UL, CE, RoHS, CSA and TÜV.

To strengthen the line further, makers such as W&W offer related products, including drainage pumps for air conditioners, exhaust fans and medical equipment.

Mainland China has 500 manufacturers of AC motors. Locally owned enterprises represent 70 percent of the supplier base, and the rest are foreign-owned or Taiwan- and Hong Kong-invested companies.

Production is mostly carried out in the Yangtze River Delta region, particularly in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and Shanghai. Factories are also located in the provinces of Anhui, Shandong, Hunan, Henan, Jilin and Guangxi. These areas represent more than 50 percent of the mainland’s overall AC motor turnout.

OEM and ODM orders account for over 50 percent of deliveries.

Several enterprises, meanwhile, also offer DC motors because of the high demand. Hangzhou Yunkong Technology Co. Ltd produces this type for vehicles.

China’s AC motor yield climbed by 26 percent in 2010 on the back of strong demand. Robust shipments are projected to push overall industry growth to 15 percent this year. In the January-April period alone, export sales and volume for electric motors rose by 26 and 6 percent YoY. During this time, multiphase variants with 750W and 75kW rated power dominated overseas deliveries, posting $293 million in international revenue, a 58 percent increase YoY. Shipments of models boasting above 75kW were also up 47 percent to $106 million.

Single-phase induction motors can be categorized based on their start and run characteristics. Meanwhile, shaded pole asynchronous versions, which are known for their low noise, are utilized in electric fans, vacuum cleaners and hair driers. Units in this configuration can be salient and nonsalient. W&W's 48 series of shaded pole motors are used in humidifiers, refrigerators, water pumps and meters.

Regarding structure, there are squirrel cage winding and wound rotor types. The first is preferred because of its simpler construction and lower price. Units with adjustable, constant, variable, high and slow speeds, and velocity modulation are also offered.

Releases likewise include induction, servo, moment and drag versions. These are targeted at office, industrial and medical equipment.

Hangzhou Yunkong's model 86YKSM AC servo motor operates at 220V and consumes 750W. The unit has 2.5N•m rated torque, 3,000rpm rated speed and 2,500Hz pivot plate resonator optical encoder. It is suitable for textile, CNC and injection machines.

Shengzhou City Dongfang Motor Co. Ltd's YYS180-4 model for air conditioners boasts 50Hz frequency, 230V rated voltage and 1.6A rated current. It delivers 500 to 900rpm rated speed and 120W power output.

The main materials include copper, zinc, steel, aluminum and plastic. The last three are usually adopted for the shell. Copper-clad aluminum lacquered circular wire and silicon steel sheet are also key to production.

Manufacturers typically source inputs locally, although some turn to foreign partners for other requirement. Tisco and Wisco are the major providers of magnet steel. Several companies can make motor shells and hardware fittings in-house.

Businesses are equipped with high-speed punching, decubital automatic casting, plastic injection, and forming and automatic winding and embedding wire machines. CNC lathes, vacuum dipping and drying equipment is also employed. To ensure quality, enterprises use stator comprehensive test devices and product delivery test-beds.

Manufacturing comprises punching, plastic injection, aluminum casting, coiling, embedding wire, dipping lacquer, mounting and packaging. Many companies are streamlining operations to cope with the labor shortage and high outlay. Magnet steel costs, for instance, jumpedby more than 20 percent this year. To cut overhead, W&W has reduced production and delivery period, and adjusted processes.

China suppliers are emphasizing major markets North America and Asia to overcome local competition. These areas account for 90 percent of overseas deliveries. Shipments to Italy and Germany are anticipated to jump by more than 50 percent this year.

Companies are likewise prioritizing large-volume orders to boost gains.

Prices of motors exported to South America, Africa and Southeast Asia have increased, while those going to North America, Europe and Australia are shrinking.

Hong Kong's motor manufacturers are broadening their product catalogs to cater to diverse applications. Suppliers offer 3-phase, shaded pole, asynchronous, synchronous and universal types. These target home appliances such as electric fans, microwave ovens, food mixers, refrigerators and can openers. Development activities lean toward lowering the noise level.

AC motors are widely adopted, thanks to their higher overload capability and efficiency compared with DC kinds. The first likewise boast better resilience in tough environments and are less expensive to produce. Releases from the territory are likewise employed in office, medical and industrial segments.

Precision instruments, vending machines and electric fans are the common applications of compact shaded pole motors. Variants with 1,000 to 3,500rpm loaded speed are adopted in humidifiers, exhaust fans and massagers.

Synchronous kinds that deliver 3,000 to 3,600rpm loaded speed are used in pencil sharpeners, can openers and ice crushers.

Suntech Development Co. Ltd's 3-phase AC motor with 3.2W power output is suitable for refrigerators.

Makers also manufacture geared, universal and high-horsepower permanent split capacitor motors and blowers.

At least 25 players are pursuing the line in the territory.

Many enterprises provide OEM and ODM services. Teco Electric Co. Ltd designs units with different voltages, load speeds, power output and dimensions to meet various client specifications.

The key components are usually sourced from Japan and South Korea.

Jency Motor Industrial Ltd's permanent magnet DC micro, BLDC, shaded pole, universal and asynchronous units are used in electric knives and hair dryers.

Related report:
DC Motors: Units for electric vehicles, “green” products gain momentum

Dongguan Zhonglong Motor & Electric Appliance Mfy Co. Ltd
(mainland China)

Model: 38-11
Description: 6 to 24VDC operating voltage, 50 to 2,500mA current; 0 to 75 C operating temperature; ≤45dB low noise; 8L/min maximum static flow rate; 7m maximum static water head; 20,000hr life span; submersible; optional run-dry, overcurrent, -voltage, -heating protection, signal feedback, speed control; 110x49x57mm

Hangzhou Yunkong Technology Co. Ltd
(mainland China)

Model: 86YKSM
MOQ: 1 unit
Delivery: 14 days
Description: 750W rated power, 220V voltage; 3,000rpm rated speed; 2.5N•m rated torque; 2,500Hz pivot plate resonator optical encoder; for textile, CNC, injection machines

Once Top Mfy Ltd
(Hong Kong)

Model: OT-BL4260
MOQ: 2,000 units
Delivery: 25 days
Description: Brushless motor; 12V; 42mm diameter; for household appliances, machineries, equipment, water and air pumps

Pro Motor Electric Co. Ltd
(Taiwan)

Model: PF450
Description: 6/8.4V operating, 8.4V constant voltage; 11A current; 57W output; 26,130rpm no-load speed, 2.2A current; 63% efficiency; 3.6oz•in, 257g•cm torque at maximum efficiency; 21oz•in, 1,520g•cm stall torque; 27.5x25x73.5/3.175mm; customizable

Suntech Development Co. Ltd
(Hong Kong)

Model: SGD11A
MOQ: 1,100 units
Delivery: 15 days
Description: 3.2W power output; 6V output voltage, 300mA current; 3,000rpm speed

Teco Electric Co. Ltd
(Hong Kong)

Model: YJR512 Series
Description: For 230V/50Hz version: 2,700rpm, 0.08A no-load speed; 1,800rpm, 0.09A loaded speed; 1.68W input power; 12% efficiency; for 120V/60Hz version: 2,800rpm, 0.055A no-load speed; 2,000rpm, 0.06A loaded speed; 0.65W input power; 13% efficiency; 277g

W&W Motor Co. Ltd
(mainland China)

Model: YJF61/16 General
MOQ: 2,000 units
Delivery: 30 days
Price: $2.66
Description: Copper, steel; rotor, stator, end cover, winding assembly; 61mm frame width, 16mm stator thickness; 61x16mm; 600g; in black or original color; CE, UL, TÜV, CSA, cUL, CCC