Synchronous AC motor makers highlight '1,000W types

Companies boost competitiveness in traditional home appliances market while eyeing prospects in emerging applications such as electric vehicles and robotics.

Steering clear of competition with major industry players, China makers of synchronous AC motors focus on small-power types below 1,000W and emphasize those based on permanent magnets, specifically NdFeB. They leverage permanent-magnet units' advantages of compact form, light weight and high power density to enhance penetration of the electric vehicles and robotics markets and strengthen base in household appliances.

Suppliers ensure improved efficiency, energy-saving features and durability. They use high-quality materials and components such as enameled wire, magnetic inputs and bearings sourced locally or from overseas providers.

The selections of Wuxi Dereo Motor Technology Co. Ltd and Hefei Rishang Electrical Appliance Co. Ltd consist entirely of permanent-magnet models. Such types have between 70 and 80 percent share at ZJTEX Electric Group Co. Ltd and about 60 percent at Changzhou Sanjet Electronics Co. Ltd. NdFeB-based models represent 80 percent of ZJTEX's permanent magnet-based output, and 20 percent of Wuxi Dereo's yield.

Synchronous AC motors are widely adopted because of their high performance, which specifically constant speed under load conditions, elevated torque, low starting current, and enhanced power factor and efficiency.

The industrial, transportation and agricultural sectors are the major applications. The first is highlighted as it spans the mining, iron and steel, paper and cellulose, sanitation, chemical and petrochemical, cement, and rubber fields. This requires mainly medium- and high-power motor variants, which segment international players such as ABB, WEG, GE, Siemens, and TMEIC dominate.

In smaller-power types, the demand drivers are home appliances, medical equipment, electronic instruments and EVs.

Combined downstream requirement is expected to keep the CAGR of synchronous AC motors at 15 percent in 2015-20, according to MarketsandMarkets.

Spurred by such forecasts, China manufacturers are confident of realizing stable annual growth surpassing 10 percent. For 2015, Wuxi Dereo has set a target of a 20 to 30 percent increase in sales. The maker is bolstering production capacity for the category by 50 percent. Changzhou Sanjet's objective is a 10 percent uptick.

More than 600 companies in China churn out AC motors, about 70 percent of which are locally owned and the rest with foreign investment. The latter includes the key industry players mentioned above.

The suppliers congregate mainly in the Yangtze River Delta region, specifically in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces and Shanghai. Others are in the provinces of Henan, Shandong, Anhui and Hunan.

In January to August 2015, China's production of AC motors reached 185.2 million kW. Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Henan and Shandong accounted for the bulk of this total.

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