How to select a motor provider - 7 things to consider

To get the best return from your motor investment, it pays to consider the application it will be used for and the lifecycle you require from it. The motor needs to be durable and robust to avoid breakdowns and have a high efficiency, but just as important is the help and support you get from your motor supplier.

Here are seven top considerations you should make when choosing your motor and supplier. Remember, though, this isn’t an exhaustive list and we’d love to hear your thoughts which you can leave in the box below.

1. Application know-how

Look for a supplier offering pre-purchase advice on which motor is the most suitable for your application. Even a motor of the highest quality will perform poorly if it is the wrong size or being used in the wrong place.

2. Selection and dimensioning

The depth of a supplier’s expertise about your processes and applications is often reflected in the breadth of their product offering.

3. Availability

As important as having a wide motor range is the ability of a customer to be able to get hold of a particular motor quickly and efficiently to minimise downtime.

4. Standards and classifications

A reputable supplier should meet all relevant legislative requirements. Gibbons Engineering Group motors are recognised by the following marine classification authorities:

•          American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
•          Bureau Veritas (BV)
•          China Classification Society (CCS)
•          China Corporation Register of Shipping (CR)
•          Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
•          Germanischer Lloyd (GL)
•          Korea Register of Shipping (KR)
•          Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (LR)
•          Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK)
•          Polski Rejestr Statkow (PRS)
•          Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
•          Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS)

5. Documentation

Accomplished motor manufacturers should be able to meet your requirements for documentation and make it readily available by email, download, post or CD-ROM. Many manufacturers have detailed quality/environmental standards documentation. Please ask your supplier for this documentation.

Make sure you can get easy access to:

•      Motor drawings
•      Performance curves including speed torque curves
•      CAD (computer-aided design) drawings and dimensional drawings – well  presented with all parameters clearly highlighted
•      Test certificates
•      Environmental certificates
•      EC declarations of conformity
•      Quality certificates
•      Classification societies’ certificates for marine motors
•      Type examinations certificates for hazardous-area motors
•      Noise spectrums
•      Type test reports
•      Certificates together with frequency converters
•      Motor catalogues
•      Manuals
•      Spare parts and option lists
•      Educational guides.

6. Supplier knowledge

Check that your supplier understands your process and has experts who really understand how pumps, fans, conveyors and compressors are controlled in your industry and can help you select the right motor.

Technical queries

Gibbons Engineering Group’s support system ensures that technical queries are answered immediately or at least within 24 hours wherever possible.

Quality of personnel

Reliability can also be defined by the proficiency of the supplier’s personnel at answering your technical questions. Gibbons Engineering Group, for example, has a pool of engineers able to tackle all issues. Its qualified applications engineers are able to handle all motor issues from harmonies to bearing currents.

7. Product features

When looking at the bottom line, few businesses stop to consider the financial impacts of their electric motors. However, your choice of motor can significantly affect the profitability of your operation.

Cheap, poor-quality motors can have a detrimental effect on your business:

• The short-term benefits of purchasing a poor quality, cheaper motor are quickly lost when you discover that they’re likely to cost more to run
• They’re more likely to suffer from reliability problems, resulting in more frequent breakdowns requiring early replacement or rewind
•  If you fit poor-quality, cheaper motors into equipment you sell on, it’s your company that will get the warranty claims and a poor reputation when the motor breaks down.

Ensure you’re getting the ideal motor for your application by contacting Gibbons Group on 01621 868138 or at paul.scott@gibbonsgroup.co.uk. To browse all our high-performance products and services, take a look at our Electric Motors homepage.