Shenzhen Power’s PU5442 model with 13,000rpm speed for blenders and juicers uses aluminum wire in the stator winding.

High efficiency, low noise and long life span remain key trends as companies aim to broaden market reach.

Suppliers of AC motors in China leverage mature technology to strengthen hold on their traditional home appliances market and expand to other segments. They stress the use of high-quality enameled wire, silicon steel sheets and bearings to ensure improved efficiency, low noise and long life span. Makers also underscore flexibility to meet custom speed, torque, shaft and voltage requirements.

Manufacturers are looking to boost penetration of the medical and fitness equipment, and industrial fields. They target treadmills, electric wheel and massage chairs, hospital beds, pumps, blowers, conveyors and compressors. Shenzhen Power Motor Industrial Co. Ltd has units for medical and fitness products, besides those for electric tools, office and security equipment, and automotive applications. Lepuda Motor Co. Ltd caters to the industrial segment, while Shenzhen Xinhe Motor Co. Ltd opts to stay focused on household appliances.

Makers are also reducing costs to sharpen competitive edge in this mature line. They employ alternative inputs such as aluminum instead of copper wire in stators in some models. Shenzhen Power’s PU5442 universal motor is an example.

To enhance production efficiency and lower outlay further, some companies improve the winding process. Shenzhen Power and a number of suppliers adopt inner winding to replace the stator’s outer one. Several manufacturers are raising automation levels as an added measure to streamline operations.

The category is anticipated to maintain sales growth of about 10 percent this year, buoyed by uptick in demand. Output is on the rise as well. In 2013, it reached 2.8kW, climbing nearly 9 percent YoY. Of this, the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong generated 48.8 million, 44.1 million and 27 million kW, accounting for almost 43 percent of local yield.

Globally, the requirement for AC motors is projected to increase about 7 percent each year and touch $122.5 billion by 2017, according to the Freedonia Group. In this regard, the line is expected to surpass DC varieties, spurred by increasing shipments of application products such as heating and cooling equipment, household appliances and machinery.

There are more than 600 makers in the sector in China, 70 percent of which are local operations. Most are in the Yangtze River Delta region, particularly in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shanghai.

Various types

The local range comes in 110, 220, 230 and 380VAC. By rotor design, there are synchronous and asynchronous kinds, with the latter dominating supply.

Synchronous units include permanent-magnet, reluctance and hysteresis variants, which are classified further into single- and polyphase types. These operate at a constant speed based on the power supply frequency. Such units are mainly used in timing applications. In general, synchronous motors are larger and more expensive than their asynchronous counterparts of the same power rating.

The asynchronous subcategory includes induction and commutator varieties. The former covers single-, 3-phase and shaped-pole models. The first runs on household single sine wave alternating current and suits low-horsepower uses such as home appliances. Releases with a 3-phase configuration are for compressors, hydraulic pumps, air-conditioning compressors, irrigation pumps and other high-horsepower industrial equipment. The third boasts constant speed, low noise and smooth rotation. It is adopted in light-load and unidirectional uses such as electric fans, vacuum cleaners and hair dryers.

Commutator motors exhibit higher starting torque, speed and power than induction types but are not maintenance-free due to brush and commutator wear. Electric traction applications, hoists, locomotives, vacuum cleaners, food processors and mixers, hair dryers, coffee grinders and electric shavers are the key applications.

Commutator units come in single-phase excited, repulsion and universal versions, all with elevated starting torque. With high speed, the first is comparable with a DC series motor. Repulsion kinds have a low starting current. Universal types run at variable speed and can operate on AC or DC power.

China suppliers accommodate buyers’ specifications on speed, torque, voltage, shaft, brake and mounting dimensions.

The main materials used in making AC motors include enameled copper or aluminum wire, magnets, bearings, metal and plastic. Copper and steel account for more than 50 percent of production costs.

Makers source materials locally, turning to foreign suppliers on request. Prices are expected to remain at current levels until year-end.

Related report:
Brushless motors: Manufacturers continue category buildup

Product gallery

Lepuda Motor Co. Ltd
(Mainland China)

Model: PLD6116-GL60180
MOQ: 1,000 units
Delivery: 20 days
Description: Asynchronous type; single-phase; 100 to 240V, 50/60Hz; low noise; SGCC-grade material; -15 to 105 C operating temperature; 180mm; CCC, REACH, RoHS, TÜV, UL

Ningbo New Guanlian Motor Electronic Co. Ltd
(Mainland China)

Model: YN60 Motor
MOQ: 500 units
Delivery: 25 days
Description: Asynchronous type; 7.8 to 467rpm speed; 1.35 to 81N•m output torque; 220V, 60Hz; 6W input power; 50dB noise; counter-, clockwise rotation; for automatic control equipment

Shenzhen Power Motor Industrial Co. Ltd
(Mainland China)

Model: PU5442
MOQ: 1,000 units
Delivery: 45 days
Description: Asynchronous type; universal; 13,000rpm speed; 220V; 350W power output; pure-aluminum stator winding; for blenders, juicers

Shenzhen Xinhe Motor Co. Ltd
(Mainland China)

Model: XH-60
MOQ: 100 units
Delivery: 15 days
Description: Synchronous type; 10 or 12rpm speed; 220V, 50/60Hz; 14W input power; counter-, clockwise rotation; centric or eccentric shaft