Across European industry, drive and motion technologies are central to countless production and processing systems. They control speed, torque, positioning and energy use across applications ranging from automated manufacturing lines to water infrastructure and specialist processing environments.
These technologies are rarely visible to end users, but they are fundamental to how modern industry operates. Without reliable motion control and power transmission, most automated and semi-automated environments would simply not function as intended.
Within SHI’s European businesses, drive and motion technologies form part of a broader industrial capability that supports manufacturing, infrastructure and specialist processing across multiple sectors.
Motion and drive systems as part of larger solutions
Industrial drive and motion technologies are almost never standalone solutions. They operate as embedded elements within wider systems such as conveyors, mixers, pumps, fans, robotics platforms and production lines.
Variable speed drives regulate motor behaviour based on real operating demand. Gear systems translate power into usable torque. Precision motors enable controlled, repeatable movement. Integrated drive packages allow machine builders to simplify system design and improve reliability.
In practice, these technologies are selected based on the needs of the overall system rather than the performance of individual components in isolation.
Engineers and system designers typically assess load behaviour, duty cycles, environmental conditions, control requirements and energy usage before determining the most appropriate motion platform.
Different technologies for different operating environments
The drive and motion field is not a single technology category. It encompasses several distinct but closely related areas.
Electronic variable speed drives, also known as variable frequency drives, are used where speed control, energy efficiency and process flexibility are required. These are common in HVAC systems, water and wastewater operations, materials handling and automated production.
Electric motors range from general industrial designs to specialist high efficiency or application specific variants. Motor selection influences performance, reliability and lifecycle cost.
Gear and transmission systems are used where torque conversion, load handling and mechanical durability are critical. These technologies are typically found in heavy industry, processing, lifting and demanding continuous operations.
Integrated motion systems combine drives, motors and gearing into coordinated platforms designed to work together predictably within defined operating conditions. Each of these areas supports different operational priorities, and selection is driven primarily by application context.
Application driven selection rather than product driven choice
In most industrial environments, drive and motion technologies are selected based on application requirements rather than brand preference alone.
A conveyor system handling variable loads requires different control behaviour than a constant speed pump. A high precision automated cell demands different positioning characteristics than a ventilation system. Corrosive or washdown environments impose different protection requirements than clean indoor facilities.
This application first approach shapes how motion and drive technologies are designed, configured and deployed.
It also explains why specialist suppliers focus on defined technical domains rather than attempting to serve every use case with a single, generalised platform.
Specialist drive and motion companies within SHI’s European businesses
Within SHI’s European businesses, drive and motion capabilities are supported by specialist companies including Invertek Drives, Lafert Group and SCG Group.
Operating as part of the wider Sumitomo Drive Technologies brand, these businesses focus on different elements of the motion and power transmission landscape, from electronic drive control and motor technologies to gearing and integrated drive systems.
They support machine builders, system integrators, OEMs and end users across a wide range of industrial sectors, with their technologies embedded within manufacturing systems, infrastructure assets and specialist machinery.
Although these companies operate independently and serve different markets, they share a common engineering foundation centred on motion control, power transmission and long term system reliability.
Efficiency, control and operational stability
A consistent theme across modern drive and motion technologies is the move away from fixed operation toward controlled and adaptive performance.
Variable speed control allows equipment to match output to actual demand rather than operating continuously at full capacity. This can reduce energy use, limit mechanical stress and improve process stability.
Precision gearing and robust transmission systems support reliable load handling under demanding conditions. Integrated motion packages reduce compatibility risk and simplify system design.
In many cases, the value of these technologies is measured not only in efficiency, but in uptime, predictable behaviour and long term operational stability.
A foundational layer in modern industry
Drive and motion technologies form a foundational technical layer across European industry. They support automation, processing, infrastructure and specialist production while remaining largely unseen.
Because they operate inside larger systems, their importance is often most apparent when performance is disrupted rather than when systems run smoothly.
For this reason, industrial buyers and system designers tend to prioritise proven engineering, application fit and lifecycle support when selecting drive and motion technologies.
Within the wider SHI Europe technology landscape, drive and motion capabilities represent one important part of a broader industrial platform that supports how industry operates every day.