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What Does Leadership Mean in Drive Technology?

Why true engineering leadership goes beyond components, and starts with accountability, interdisciplinary thinking, and real-world results

Drive systems are often treated as background components - out of sight, out of mind. But in reality, drive technology sits at the heart of nearly every machine-based process. It converts energy into movement, regulates control, and enables efficiency. In food processing, packaging, manufacturing, or logistics, nothing moves unless a drive system does its job.

At NGI DriveTech, we don’t just see the motor as a power source. We see it as the central node where mechanical, electrical, and software systems converge. That’s why we believe real leadership in this field isn’t just about supplying a component, it’s about delivering an engineered solution that works in practice, not just on paper.

This article explores what leadership means in drive technology, both from a technical perspective and from the mindset of the people who design and implement these systems.

Written by Gerhard Froebus, Founder, NGI DriveTech

”Engineering leadership means understanding the system deeply enough to question assumptions - and having the tools to improve it, not just manage it."

Gerhard FroebusFounder, NGI DriveTech

Drive Systems Are the Core of Resource Allocation

Drive technology determines how energy is allocated, transformed, and utilized within a system. That can be as simple as moving a product from one conveyor to the next, or as complex as synchronizing multiple axes in high-speed packaging or automated assembly.

Because drive technology must respond to real-time demands, operate under varying load conditions, and interact with multiple subsystems, its design requires broad interdisciplinary knowledge. The best results come from engineers who think beyond their discipline and collaborate across mechanics, electronics, control systems, and software.

At NGI DriveTech, we bring together expertise in:

Mechanical design and system integration
Electrical engineering and power electronics
Control engineering and automation
Software and embedded control logic

This is what allows us to deliver drive systems that are not only powerful, but predictable, ensuring they operate as intended under real-world conditions, with no guesswork and no unexpected failures.

Leadership Means Owning the Outcome

From a customer’s perspective, a drive should just work. It should deliver the right torque, respond to commands accurately, and survive the demands of the environment, whether that’s a washdown zone in a dairy facility or a high-cycle packaging line running 24/7.

But for that to happen, someone has to take responsibility for the outcome. Not just the motor specs. Not just the mounting dimensions. The entire operational result.

That’s what we take ownership of at NGI. We don’t just provide a product; we deliver an engineered solution that reflects real-world use cases and has been tested to perform in those conditions. This means we:

Validate performance with realistic load scenarios
Design for hygiene, not just protection ratings
Optimize for efficiency and lifetime operating costs
Collaborate directly with users to understand application specifics

Leadership, in this sense, means making sure the customer doesn’t have to become an expert in drive technology. We take that burden off their shoulders.

Why Interdisciplinary Thinking Matters

Too often, drive systems are chosen in isolation, based on horsepower or price—without full consideration of how they’ll integrate into the overall system. But the motor isn’t an island. It interacts with the mechanical design, PLC programming, environmental factors, and maintenance procedures.

That’s why our engineering team constantly builds knowledge across disciplines. For example:

Understanding the stress distribution in a mounting bracket helps us prevent premature bearing failure.
Knowing the switching behavior of VFDs allows us to improve electromagnetic compatibility in sensitive environments.
Factoring in cleaning procedures helps us design systems that maintain IP69K protection over time.

This approach doesn’t come from textbooks. It comes from field experience, solving problems hands-on, learning from failures, and translating those lessons into better designs.

A Team-Driven Approach to Problem Solving

What ultimately matters is not the brilliance of a single engineer, but the effectiveness of the team. Froebus emphasizes the importance of simple, structured processes that allow teams to work together reliably and make decisions that hold up under pressure.

That’s why NGI’s engineering and sales teams work side-by-side with customers to:

Review application requirements in detail
Identify potential integration risks early
Provide retrofit-friendly solutions
Share practical installation and maintenance advice

And importantly, we listen. Whether it’s a machine builder with unique space constraints or a plant manager struggling with cleaning protocols, our job is to absorb their needs, not impose a product.

"Leadership means traveling to the user," Froebus notes, "not just to sell, but to understand. To help them solve the problem behind the problem."

Built on Trust, Backed by Data

Trust is not built with marketing promises. It’s built by showing up, delivering what was promised, and staying accountable when things don’t go as expected.

That’s why we back our solutions with real performance data:

Torque-speed curves to prove low-speed control
Efficiency ratings to validate energy savings
Thermal performance tests under full load
ROI calculators to quantify long-term value

We are not afraid to share the numbers, because we’ve done the work to ensure they hold up in real-world conditions.

Drive Systems That Lead by Design

True leadership in drive technology means understanding that a motor is more than a motor. It’s a tool for enabling reliability, hygiene, efficiency, and control. And those goals require more than horsepower; they require interdisciplinary thinking, field-tested solutions, and a team that leads from experience, not ego.

At NGI DriveTech, we build drive systems that lead by design, because every great production system starts with a motor you can count on.

About the Author: Gerhard Froebus:

Gerhard Froebus is the founder of Momentum Technologies, which in 2022 became part of NGI. Following the rebranding in 2024, Momentum now operates under the name NGI DriveTech, a dedicated division focused on advanced drive solutions for hygienic and industrial applications.

With more than 30 years of experience across the consumer goods and industrial machinery sectors, Gerhard has worked as a technician, system designer, engineering manager, and entrepreneur. He is known for his hands-on approach, deep interdisciplinary knowledge, and ability to turn complex system requirements into practical, reliable solutions.

Today, Gerhard plays a central role in shaping NGI DriveTech’s product development strategy and works closely with customers to ensure every motor is designed not just to function—but to lead in performance, reliability, and integration. His vision continues to influence NGI DriveTech’s mission of delivering engineered solutions that meet the evolving needs of industry.

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