Drones, robotics direct brushless motor R&D toward high-speed types

Enhanced reliability remains the overriding priority in the brushless motor category, which is expected to replace traditional brushed counterparts.

Manufacturers of brushless motors in China are pushing the future development of units with greater speed to benefit from the growing drone and robotics markets. Drones, in particular, have been expanding in the retail consumer and commercial segments, while industrial automation fuels investments in robotics.

There are also suppliers that are targeting other fields. Shenzhen Hengdrive, one of the largest local makers in the line, has introduced models with up to 120,000rpm for the military sector. Actively pursuing R&D, it now owns more than 10 technology patents for units widely used in vehicles, medical devices, communications equipment, robotics, household appliances and office automation.

Companies will also continue to match trends in key applications such as home appliances, automotive and medical equipment. They are harnessing the brushless technology's advantages of precision, speed and efficiency, besides low noise, maintenance-free operation, long life span, small size and light weight, to gain from the motor type's growing popularity in markets dominated by conventional brushed units. In home-use tools that run on lithium batteries, the brushless category is predicted to supersede brushed kinds in the next three to five years.

Efforts to improve product reliability are sustained as well. China manufacturers ensure products meet CCC, CE, EMC, RoHS and UL standards. Some have complied with VDA 6.3, the Germany quality management system, which applies to the production of motors for the automotive industry.

Most companies have increased their output to fill the uptick in demand in the local and overseas markets. Shenzhen CJC Electrical Appliances Co. Ltd, which did by 20 percent in the past year, plans to expand its factory by 1,500sqm to maintain the rise in production in the next one or two years.

The China motor industry realized an aggregate sales value of $139.97 billion in 2017, higher by 8.3 percent YoY, according to a report from Sohu News. The growth rate will stay within the 5 to 10 percent range by end-2018 and in 2019.

The brushless motor segment outperformed this, posting an increase of 15 percent in 2017. Revenue reached $3.2 billion from $2.8 billion in the previous year.

In 2022, the local brushless motor sector will have a total market scale of $8.3 billion in 2022, registering an annual growth of about 20% from 2018, according to the Qianzhan Industry Research Institute.

There are more than 400 makers of brushless motors in China now. More than 80 percent of them are local enterprises. Besides Shenzhen HengDrive, the major companies include Changzhou Hetai, Shanghai Moons, Shenzhen Wanzhida and Shenzhen Hamderburg.

Homegrown and foreign-invested suppliers are engaged in the production of other types of motors such as brushed and stepper units. The brushless line accounts for 10 to 80 percent of aggregate shipments, a ratio that the majority will adjust as orders increase.

The Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta regions remain the key production bases for the category, and will continue to attract more players. Over 60 percent of the maker pool gathers in the provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, specifically in the cities of Shenzhen, Dongguan, Ningbo and Changzhou.

Inner or outer rotators

China suppliers of brushless motors offer types with inner or outer rotators, rated voltage ranging from 3 to 72VDC, rated current of 5.4 to 20A and efficiency surpassing 70 percent. Units use class B insulation. These measure 16 to 300mm in diameter.

Applications include home appliances, automotive, drones, and office, medical and industrial equipment.

The majority of local manufacturers use components and materials such as rotators, stators, magnets, shafts, sensors and shells from domestic providers, turning to foreign sources as required only.

The cost of inputs has been steady so there have been no price adjustments. This stable trend is expected to persist through 2019.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our China-based market analyst for representing current trends in brushless motors from China makers.

4,000rpm-rated brushless motor

The 42mm Series brushless motor from LDO Motors Co. Ltd has 24VDC rated voltage, 26 to 105W rated power, 5.4 to 20A peak current and 500VDC/min dielectric strength. It has a minimum insulation resistance of 100Mohm at 500VDC and uses class B insulation.

The unit has a 4,000rpm rated speed and 0.063 to 0.25N.m torque. It is 41 to 100mm long and weighs 300 to 800g. The negotiable minimum order is delivered within 15 days.

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Brushless motor is rated at 24V, 0.5A

Shenzhen AOK Motor Group Ltd's model BL-5745-2420 brushless motor is rated at 24V, 0.5A and has a no-load current of 0.2A. It adopts class B insulation and has an insulation resistance of 10Mohm at 250VDC.

The unit has a 2,000rpm no-load speed, 1,400rpm rated speed and 50mN.m rated torque. It operates in -20 to 50 C.

The minimum order is 200 units for delivery within 15 days.

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Brushless motor has 3,398mN.m torque

From Shenzhen CJC Electrical Appliances Co. Ltd, model BL4260G brushless motor has 27rpm speed and 3,398mN.m torque. Its rated voltage is 24VDC, output power 9W, power consumption 25W and efficiency rating 70 percent.

The maker requires a minimum order of 500 units for delivery within 25 days.

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80 to 242W-rated brushless motor

Wuxi Junhong Automation Technology Co. Ltd markets the ME060AS model, a brushless motor with 24VDC rated voltage, 6.54, 10.96 or 16.35A rated current and 80, 162 or 242W rated output power.

The class B unit has a 3,000rpm rated speed and 0.25, 0.5 or 0.75Nm torque. It weighs 850g, 1.25 or 1.7kg and measures 78, 99 or 120mm in length.

An order of at least 100 units is required for delivery within 30 days.

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