Brushless motor suppliers sustain production expansion

Makers continue to highlight the development of integrated and sensorless configurations.

China DC motor companies remain on track in their objective to enhance their selections with brushless units, broadening this further by following the trends for integrated and sensorless designs. They keep emphasis on major applications in the home appliances and automotive sectors, while catering to the office automation, medical, instrumentation, industrial, military and aerospace segments.

Besides product advantages of high efficiency and reliability, low noise and long life span, manufacturers see more opportunities in the line from dynamic R&D, compared with the mature brushed category. Sensorless technology is expected to become the primary control in future releases, while brushless units already constitute the fastest-growing segment in the integrated-motor market. Globally, sales in the latter are projected to climb at an annual rate of 7 percent in 2012-17, according to IHS.

Brushless types account for 80 percent of output of Dongguan Country Dream Motor Co. Ltd, which entered the line in 2014. All are integrated models and about 20 percent use the sensorless method to measure rotor position. The maker is applying for TS16949 certification to break into the automotive industry. Its brushless motors are mainly for household appliances, medical equipment, personal care products and electric power tools.

About half of TT Motor (Shenzhen) Industrial Co. Ltd's DC motors are brushless, 80 percent of which have built-in drivers and the rest are sensorless. The home appliances and automotive markets collectively account for about 80 percent of yield, and medical equipment, power tools and office automation for the remainder.

Wuxi Junhong Automation Technology Co. Ltd will increase the ratio to 60 percent from 55 percent by end-2015, and Changzhou Sherry Motors Co. Ltd to 50 percent from 40 percent. Integrated kinds make up 20 percent of these suppliers' brushless category. Wuxi Junhong focuses on industrial applications.

Encouraging makers on this initiative is the steady 10 percent rise in yearly revenue. In 2015, some have set higher sales targets. Dongguan Country Dream is looking to achieve a 40 to 50 percent boost, and TT between 20 and 30 percent. Wuxi Junhong is aiming for an uptick of about 20 percent, and will increase production capacity by 10 percent by end-2015.

Mainland China is the largest manufacturing base for brushless motors, responsible for more than 30 percent of global output. There are over 200 suppliers there, at least 70 percent of which are locally owned and the rest foreign operations. The last includes major players such as Nidec, Nabuchi and those with investment from Taiwan and Hong Kong. The key hubs are the provinces of Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Download a comparison table PDF of 12 verified brushless DC motor suppliers. Contact suppliers directly from the PDF.

See a comparison table of brushless motor suppliers on GlobalSources.com