Products

Are you making the right choice? Drum Motors or Gear Motors - which is best for the food industry?

Is your production line struggling with cleanliness, energy costs, or limited space? Choosing the right motor for your food production facility can make all the difference. Drum motors offer game-changing solutions to common issues in the food industry, from hygiene challenges to frequent maintenance needs. Let’s explore why drum motors might be the upgrade your facility needs.

Written by Michael van Meegen, NGI DriveTech

”Drum motors are built to last with minimal maintenance. Their enclosed design protects internal components from wear and tear caused by environmental factors like dust, water, and food particles (...)

Are You Struggling to Keep Your Equipment Sanitary?

In the food industry, hygiene isn’t just important—it’s non-negotiable. Drum motors have a sealed, enclosed design that keeps contaminants out, making them easy to clean and sanitize. With no exposed moving parts or crevices where dirt can hide, they meet the strict hygiene standards demanded by food processing facilities.

Gear motors, on the other hand, have external components like gears and chains that are harder to clean and more prone to trapping bacteria.

Are you energy-conscious?

Drum motors are designed to be highly efficient, often achieving better energy performance than gear motors. With fewer components and an integrated design, they reduce energy losses, helping you save on operational costs.

Gear motors, while effective, typically have more mechanical losses due to their complex setup. Over time, these inefficiencies can add up, making drum motors a more cost-effective choice for energy-conscious businesses.

 

Is Limited Space Slowing Down Your Production?

Space is often at a premium in food production facilities. Drum motors are compact and integrate directly into the conveyor, freeing up valuable floor space. Our new Compact motor takes this advantage even further, delivering powerful performance in an even smaller footprint.

Gear motors, by contrast, require more room due to their external components and additional mounting hardware. 

Tired of Frequent Repairs and Downtime?

Drum motors are built to last with minimal maintenance. Their enclosed design protects internal components from wear and tear caused by environmental factors like dust, water, and food particles. This translates to longer lifespans and fewer maintenance interruptions.

Gear motors require regular upkeep, including lubrication and part replacements, which can increase downtime and maintenance costs.

Conclusion - Synchronous drum motors are the best choice for the food industry

When it comes to hygiene, efficiency, space savings, maintenance, and sustainability, drum motors outperform gear motors on every front.

By choosing synchronous drum motors, you’re investing in cleaner, more efficient, and reliable solutions that keep your operations running smoothly while prioritizing food safety and sustainability. 

Michael van Meegen, Sales Manager  DriveTech  Germany, Austria & Switzerland, NGI

Learn more about the author, Michael van Meegen 

Education: Diplom Ingenieur Electrical engineering with a focus on drive and automation technology

Experiences: Michael has been working in the field of drive and automation technology for more than 25 years. He has spent this time with different motor technologies, Servo- and Inverter technology and also, electromechanics like gear and gearmotors. During his career he worked as a Project Manager in plant engineering, key account management and for years as a responsible Sales Manager in dealing with different branches with machine builders

Other: Michael's expertise is to work very intensively with the technical departments to understand the requirements and to work together to develop the best possible solutions.

We are here to help

All NGI products are in stock and ready for immediate dispatch. Our lead time throughout Europe is just 3-4 days. Feel free to call us for non-binding advice regarding your specific product.

Chris Haugh
Chris Haugh
Applications Engineer

DriveTech Drum Motors

United States & Canada


M: +1 (773) 628-4540

cch|ngi-global.com

Gerhard Froebus
Gerhard Froebus
Founder

DriveTech Drum Motors


D: +49 (2433) 96 42 29 5

M: +49 (170) 12 65 87 9

gfr|ngi-global.com

Johann Frizler
Johann Frizler
Senior Application Engineer

DriveTech Drum motors


D: +49 (2433) 96422 902

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Justin P. Caris
Justin P. Caris
Product Manager

DriveTech Drum Motors

United States & Canada


M: +​1 (231) 670 5778​

jpc|ngi-global.com

Mathias K. Sørensen
Mathias K. Sørensen
Global Sales Manager

DriveTech Drum Motors


D: +45 38 41 75 29

M: +45 20 98 60 14

mks|ngi-global.com

Matyas Pentek
Matyas Pentek
Application Engineer

DriveTech Drum Motors


M: +45 48 88 11 94

mpe|ngi-global.com

Michael van Meegen
Michael van Meegen
Sales Manager

DriveTech Drum Motors

Germany, Austria & Switzerland


D: +49 (24 33) 96 42 29 7

M: +49 (151) 46 47 73 48

mim|ngi-global.com

Peter Nyholm Jørgensen
Peter Nyholm Jørgensen
Head of Application Engineering, DriveTech

DriveTech Drum Motors


M: +45 4314 0103

pnj|ngi-global.com

Theis Philip Jensen
Theis Philip Jensen
President

DriveTech Drum Motors


M: +45 43 14 77 00

tpj|ngi-global.com

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