Drive Technology - ELEKTRON en

Elektron
Drive Technology

Efficiency in Motion: drive technology that pays off

Electric drive systems are the backbone of your systems and often account for up to 75% of electricity consumption. We therefore do not view drive technology purely as a product issue, but as an engineering task. Whether OEM series or retrofit: we supply frequency inverters and motors with a clear objective - maximum efficiency with full operational reliability.

To the products

Swiss engineering

Warehouse in Au (ZH)

Personal service

The biggest lever for your operating costs:

Why action is economically necessary now

Electric drive systems are the backbone of modern industrial and infrastructure systems. They move pumps, fans, conveyor belts and machines and also account for the majority of energy consumption during operation.

75% of industrial electricity consumption in Switzerland

are attributable to electric drives. Drive technology is therefore the biggest energy lever in existing plants.

90% of the total cost of a drive

are not incurred at the time of purchase, but during operation. Energy costs dominate the total cost of ownership.

<12 months amortisation

in frequency converters in many applications. The investment often pays for itself within the first year, particularly in pumps, fans and ventilators.

0% power loss

despite significant energy savings. Demand-based speed control ensures that only as much energy is used as the process actually requires.

*Guideline values depending on application/load profile. Calculation in the project.

Classification

This is precisely where there is a great deal of untapped potential in many systems. Unregulated motors, oversized drives or outdated technology permanently lead to unnecessarily high operating costs, rising CO2 emissions and avoidable mechanical wear.

ELEKTRON therefore does not view drive technology purely as a product issue, but as an engineering task. Our goal is clearly defined: maximum cost-effectiveness with full operational reliability - regardless of whether it is an OEM series or a retrofit.

Key Takeaway

Those who fail to optimise their drive technology will pay too much in the long term – economically, energetically and technically.

Our portfolio for modern drive technology

Motors

for industrial application

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Frequency converter

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Thyristor power controller

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Frequency inverter

The central efficiency lever

We cover the entire spectrum from 0.37 kW to 2 MW - for simple pumps as well as for highly dynamic machine drives.

Vacon 100 FLOW: Dedicated functions for water, waste water and building automation (multi-pump control)
Vacon NX series: The robust choice for demanding industrial applications.
Danfoss iC series: Networked drive technology for Industry 4.0 and predictive maintenance.
NFO Drives: The ideal solution for EMC-sensitive areas and prescribed RCD use (e.g. in agricultural or residential areas).

The ELEKTRON advantage: We supply frequency inverters pre-parameterized and ready to use on request. Install, connect, run.

Motors

Correctly chosen, sustainably efficient

A frequency inverter only develops its full potential with the right motor.
We dimension exactly according to your load profile, without flat-rate safety surcharges.

IEC standard motors: Robust aluminum and cast iron housings for any environment.
Highly efficient (IE4/IE5): PM synchronous and reluctance motors for maximum efficiency.
Ex protection: Certified solutions (eb, ec, db) for potentially explosive atmospheres.
Special applications: Brake motors, flange motors and customer-specific special solutions.

Availability: Common sizes available from stock in Au (ZH).

Power controller & soft starter

Thermal precision & mechanical protection

Not every application requires variable speed control. Start-up behavior or temperature control are often decisive.

Thyristor power controller: Precise, wear-free control of electrical heating loads - e.g. in industrial ovens or drying systems.
Soft starters: Limit the starting current and reduce mains loads.

Engineering support: Design and advice for thermal and mechanical loads.

Find the right drive in under 2 minutes

Use our digital design tool - or speak directly to our experts.

Request personal advice

To the frequency converter finder

Advice & design

Precision instead of estimation

We dimension your drive train along the actual load curve of your application. This prevents expensive overdimensioning ("fear surcharges") and ensures that motors and frequency inverters operate in the optimum efficiency range.

The result: lower investment costs, less energy loss and stable operation right from the start.

Plug-and-play & logistics

Save time during installation and commissioning

Our own warehouse in Au (ZH) guarantees fast availability of devices and spare parts. A decisive advantage: we supply frequency inverters ready-to-use, pre-parameterized on request.

This reduces installation errors, significantly shortens commissioning times and relieves the burden on installers and maintenance staff.

Commissioning & optimization

Getting the last percent out

The hardware is just the basis. Our technicians support you on site with fine-tuning in real operation.

In this way, we ensure that control parameters, ramps and protective functions are precisely matched to your process - for maximum efficiency and long-term operational reliability.

Support & Aftersales

Faces instead of a hotline

With ELEKTRON, you don't speak to a call center, but to personal contacts who know your system.

This creates security - even when it counts.

Profitability & sustainability

Efficiency that is measurable - why environmental protection and return on investment are not a contradiction in drive technology. Modern drive technology significantly reduces your operating costs (OpEx) - without sacrificing performance. Sustainability here is not an image issue for the annual report, but commercial common sense with a direct impact on the operating result.

The lever of a typical fan application

Initial position:

Motor power: 19.5 kW

Technology: Speed control via frequency converter (instead of mechanical choke)

Operation: Continuous operation

Period: 10 years

The result:

✔ ≈ 24,500 kg of CO₂ saved

✔ Amortization of the investment in many cases under 18 months

✔ Significantly reduced energy costs over the entire service life

The business case for sustainable drive technology

Those who invest in IE4/IE5 motors and intelligent speed control today are protecting themselves in several ways:

Immediate cost reduction

Lower power consumption has a direct impact on your running costs – measurable from the very first day of operation.

Resilient ESG reporting

Energy savings and CO₂ reductions can be proven with hard figures – relevant for internal targets and external requirements.

Future-proofing

You anticipate rising energy prices, CO₂ taxes and stricter efficiency regulations instead of having to react later.

Drive technology is one of the few areas in which investments earn money directly - through permanently lower energy costs.

Our product brochure

NOW NEW

In our product brochure, you will find all the information you need about our drive technology portfolio, our services and the experts who will be happy to advise you at any time.

Download brochure

Why customers choose ELEKTRON as a partner

We stand for precise design, reliable implementation and security of supply in drive technology - from the initial calculation to stable operation over many years.

Precise design:

Precise design based on load curve instead of expensive oversizing.

Manufacturer-independent:

The best technical choice from Vacon, Danfoss or NFO for your application.

Fully configured:

Plug-and-play ex works – install, connect, ready for operation.

Swiss warehouse:

Quick availability from Au (ZH) for series and replacement cases.

Application knowledge:

In-depth practical expertise in water/wastewater, HVAC and conveyor technology.

Personal. Experienced. On site throughout Switzerland

With ELEKTRON, you work directly with experienced specialists in drive technology - personally, solution-oriented and, if required, directly on your system.

Our promise to you:

✔ On-site support for commissioning and malfunctions

✔ Personal support by a fixed contact person (no call center)

✔ Spare parts & replacement devices from Swiss warehouse

✔ Response time: Binding feedback within one working day

✔ Technical depth: Support for EMC issues, filters, bus systems and much more

Challenges in drive technology

With the use of the latest technologies in drive technology, electricity consumption and the corresponding costs can often be halved. Optimizing drive technology is therefore not only a necessary step in tackling climate change, but also an attractive opportunity for companies to significantly reduce their energy costs.

ELEKTRON therefore not only offers expert advice and high performance - we are also driving forward the energy transition. Our quality label "energy efficient solutions" is intended to further underline our claim to sustainably increase energy efficiency in the industrial sector with specialist expertise and advanced technology.

Energy-efficient drive technology pays off

Efficient and modernized drive systems are not only more climate-friendly, the reduced power consumption is also associated with major cost savings.

In conventional drives, up to 90% of the total costs are operating costs. Energy costs are enormous in many energy-intensive companies. This is why retrofitting with frequency inverters, soft starters and motors pays for itself in a very short time - often a few months for frequency inverters and 2-3 years for motors. This reduces power consumption - without any loss of performance from the drive system.

Energiekosten einsparen

Der Einsatz moderner Antriebstechnik kann in vielen Fällen den Stromverbrauch und die damit verbundenen Kosten mehr als halbieren.

CO2 Emissionen reduzieren

Ein Frequenzumrichter mit einer Leistung von 19,5 kW kann in 10 Jahren im Rahmen einer typischen Lüfteranwendung 24'500 kg CO2-Emissionen einsparen.

Nachhaltigkeit fördern

Die Energieeffizienz in der Antriebstechnik zu steigern ist besonders wichtig, um Nachhaltigkeit in der Industrie sowie das netto-null Ziel in 2050 zu ermöglichen.

Saving money sensibly: Which drives can best be optimized?

Speed control using frequency converters

The greatest savings are possible with uncontrolled auxiliary drives with quadratic load torques in particular. However, a square load torque has a cubic relationship to the speed. This means that speed control with a frequency inverter can significantly reduce energy consumption even without a major loss of power. A speed reduction of just 20% can thus optimally reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.

Auxiliary drives with quadratic load torques

Pumps
Fans
Compressors

Other drives with constant load torques, as well as conveyor belts, extruders, winches and rolling mills can also be optimized, but the savings here are only proportional - a speed reduction of 20% also reduces energy consumption by 20%.

The optimum motor for every task

Eco design and efficiency class

When buying a new motor, the efficiency class, from IE2 to IE5, is the most important thing to consider. These are part of the European Union's Eco-Design Regulation - an ongoing improvement process with the aim of ensuring the use of energy-efficient products worldwide. The efficiency of a drive describes how much of the energy fed in is converted into usable power.

Electric drives in industry often have a relatively low level of efficiency. For many motors, the reason for this is that they are simply outdated, but even newer motors can be inefficient in partial load operation. In order to maximize energy efficiency, it is not only important to achieve a high efficiency class, but also to find the right motor technology for each application.

Find out more about eco-design in drive technology

Frequently asked questions about drive technology❓

We provide answers from our daily practice.

Is retrofitting worthwhile if the engine is still working?

Yes. As energy costs account for up to 90% of the total cost of ownership of a drive, simply continuing to operate an inefficient old system is often the more expensive option. In many applications, retrofitting with a frequency inverter pays for itself in less than 18 months - often much faster than a complete replacement.

What exactly does "pre-parameterised" mean at ELEKTRON?

We configure the frequency converter in-house according to your application data – motor data, ramps, inputs/outputs and protective functions. For you, this means: install, connect, switch on. This saves time, reduces commissioning effort and eliminates typical programming errors on site.

Can any motor be operated with a frequency converter?

Basically, yes. However, for very old motors, we check the insulation strength of the windings. Sine wave frequency converters are particularly suitable for sensitive existing motors, as they supply a pure sine wave voltage and provide maximum protection for the motor, both electrically and mechanically.

How fast is the delivery time?

We keep many common power classes available from our Swiss warehouse in Au (ZH). This is particularly important in the event of system failures, urgent replacements or short project durations.

Which applications save the most energy?

Applications with square load torque – primarily pumps, blowers and fans. Here, even a slight reduction in speed leads to disproportionate energy savings (cubic effect).

Is a frequency converter also useful with a constant load?

Yes. In applications such as conveyor belts or extenders, savings are proportional to the speed. In addition, the soft start reduces mechanical stress on gearboxes and couplings and avoids power peaks, which may be penalised by the energy supplier.

Does ELEKTRON also support OEM series projects?

Yes. We support mechanical engineers from the prototype phase through to series production. This includes series designs, customer-specific parameter sets, warehousing and logistical call-off concepts for reliable series supply.

Who can help me with the technical design?

Our experts. We provide personalised, manufacturer-independent advice, analyse your load curve and find the best technical and economical solution for your application.

→ Your question is not listed? Talk to our specialists.