Extrusion Drive Systems — Gearless. High Torque. No Water Cooling. No Limits.
Replace your conventional gearbox-coupled extrusion drive with a single direct drive motor — delivering consistent torque directly to the screw at any speed, from 0.1 RPM to rated speed, with zero mechanical losses and no water cooling infrastructure.
Why Conventional Extrusion Drives Hold You Back
Every conventional extrusion line is built around the same mechanical chain: a high-speed motor, a heavy-duty gearbox, water cooling, couplings, and belts. Each link in that chain is a liability.
These components introduce:
- 15–25% of input energy wasted through gearbox friction and heat
- Water cooling infrastructure: investment, maintenance, and failure risk
- Torque inconsistency as the gearbox wears over time
- Speed fluctuations that directly affect melt quality and product uniformity
- Unplanned downtime for gearbox oil changes, belt replacements, and coupling wear
- Large footprint — motor, gearbox, and cooling system occupy significant floor space
Conventional extrusion drives waste up to 15–25% of input energy before the screw even turns.
Direct Drive Extrusion — Pure Torque, Zero Losses
EMF Motor replaces the entire motor-gearbox-cooling assembly with a single direct drive unit. The SQME series torque motor mounts directly to the extruder, delivering high torque at low speed straight to the screw — no intermediate components, no energy chain, no losses.
Built for What Extrusion Demands
Extrusion is unforgiving. It demands constant, high torque at low RPM — sustained for hours without interruption. Speed must be rock-steady, and even minor fluctuations translate directly into melt pressure variations, dimensional inconsistency, and rejected output. EMF motors are engineered around these exact requirements.
High Pole Count: 66 – 88 – 110 Poles
The SQME motor uses 66, 88, or 110 magnetic poles — far more than a conventional motor. This allows the motor to generate massive torque at very low speeds without any mechanical reduction. No gearbox is needed because the motor itself operates at screw speed.
Stable Torque from 0.1 RPM
Full rated torque is available from 0.1 RPM all the way to maximum speed. There is no low-speed instability, no torque ripple from gear meshing, no cogging. The screw receives consistent, smooth drive at every operating point.
Ultra-Low Torque Ripple
The direct drive system produces extremely low torque ripple — a critical factor for extrusion quality. Consistent drive force means consistent melt pressure, consistent output diameter, and consistent material properties throughout the run.
Speed Accuracy: ±0.03 RPM
Speed fluctuation is held to approximately ±0.03 RPM across the operating range. For precision applications — medical tubing, cable jacketing, optical fiber — this level of stability is not optional. It is what separates acceptable product from conforming product.
No Water Cooling — Air Cooled by Design
The SQME motor is cooled naturally by convection (IC410). No water lines, no pump, no heat exchanger, no freeze protection, no risk of water leakage contaminating the process. The motor runs continuously without thermal derating.
Hollow Shaft with Integrated Thrust Bearing
The SQME hollow shaft design allows the extruder screw to mount directly into the motor shaft. Integrated thrust bearings handle the axial forces of extrusion without external support structures. Assembly is simplified, and disassembly uses a standard threaded rod.
Where the SQME Series Is Used
Direct replacement for conventional gearbox drives. Full torque from standstill, stable operation at all screw speeds.
Synchronized direct drive for both screws. Eliminates differential gearbox wear and ensures matched torque delivery.
Precise speed control maintains uniform gauge across the full width. Low torque ripple prevents melt pressure fluctuations that cause thickness variation.
Stable low-speed operation for consistent bubble stability and film uniformity.
High torque at low RPM handles filled and reinforced compounds without gearbox overload risk.
Dimensional consistency from stable melt pressure. No speed variation from gear wear.
Ultra-precise speed control ensures consistent insulation thickness. Used in precision cable extrusion applications in the U.S. and Europe.
Validated in medical extrusion lines requiring sub-millimeter dimensional tolerances. Stable torque and zero contamination risk (no gearbox oil).
Handles the high starting torque demands of cold rubber feed without mechanical strain.
Smooth, controllable torque delivery for consistent parison and shot quality.
Precise tension and speed control for film, foil, and sheet processing lines.
Stable low-speed torque for consistent haul-off force without speed hunting.
Accurate volumetric delivery at very low RPM — stable from 0.1 RPM with no dead-band.
Replace Your Gearbox Drive Without Rebuilding Your Line
The SQME series is designed for retrofit. The hollow shaft and standard flange dimensions allow direct integration into existing extruder frames without structural modification.
Existing System
After Retrofit
Direct Drive vs Conventional Extrusion Systems
| Feature | Conventional | EMF Direct Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Efficiency | ~75–80% | Up to 97% |
| Water Cooling | Required | Not needed |
| Drive Components | 4+ (motor, gearbox, coupling, belts, cooling) | 1 |
| Torque at Low Speed | Depends on gearbox ratio | Full torque from 0.1 RPM |
| Torque Consistency | Degrades with gearbox wear | Constant — no wear mechanism |
| Speed Stability | Limited by gear mesh | ±0.03 RPM |
| Maintenance | High (oil, belts, couplings) | Minimal |
| Footprint | Large | Compact (up to 3 frame sizes smaller) |
| Lifetime | Limited by gearbox | 20+ years |
| Cooling Infrastructure | Required | None |
| Oil Contamination Risk | Present | Zero |
| Pole Count | 4–16 poles typical | 66 / 88 / 110 poles |
How Much Can You Save?
Eliminating the gearbox and water cooling system delivers measurable annual savings. The figures below are based on 0.30 €/kWh, 24-hour operation, and 340 working days per year — typical for continuous extrusion production.
Savings come from two sources: elimination of gearbox friction losses (typically 5–15% of input power) and elimination of the water cooling pump motor (typically 0.5–1.5 kW continuous draw). For a 45 kW conventional system with 1:9.64 gearbox ratio, the SQME 250–500 delivers the same output torque (~2,800 Nm) with significantly lower total energy consumption — with no cooling system and a more compact installation.
Calculate savings for your systemSQME Series — Key Specifications
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Motor Technology | Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) |
| Frame Sizes | 100, 132, 160, 200, 250, 315 |
| Torque Range | Up to 13,000 Nm |
| Pole Numbers | 66 / 88 / 110 |
| Speed Range | 0.1 RPM to rated speed |
| Voltage Options | 110V / 220V / 400V / 460V AC |
| Dual Voltage | 230V / 400V in the same motor |
| Cooling | Natural convection — no fan, no water (IC410) |
| Protection | IP54 (standard) |
| Thermal Protection | PTO standard — PT100, PT1000, PTC, KTY84 optional |
| Shaft Design | Hollow shaft with integrated thrust bearing |
| Feedback | Hiperface, EnDat, sensorless |
| Mounting | Flange / Foot |
| Certification | CE |
Integrated Thrust Bearings by Frame
| Frame | Bearing |
|---|---|
| SQME100 / SQME132 | 29412 |
| SQME160 | 29416 |
| SQME200 | 29420 |
| SQME250 | 29424 / 29428 |
| SQME315 | 29432 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The SQME motor delivers the same torque range as gearbox-coupled systems — directly to the screw, at screw speed, with higher efficiency and zero mechanical losses. The hollow shaft design and standard flange dimensions make retrofit straightforward in most cases.
Yes. The SQME motor uses natural air convection cooling (IC410). No water lines, no pump, no heat exchanger. The motor operates continuously at full torque without thermal derating in ambient temperatures up to 40°C.
SQME motors maintain screw speed stability within approximately ±0.03 RPM across the operating range. This is achieved through the high pole count design combined with standard flux vector or sensorless VFD control — no high-resolution encoder is required for most applications.
In most cases, yes. SQME motors are compatible with standard flux vector drives and support sensorless control. Hiperface and EnDat feedback options are available for applications requiring closed-loop precision.
Typical retrofit installation is 1–3 days with minimal modification to the existing extrusion line structure. No new foundations or structural changes are required in standard configurations.
The SQME series covers torque requirements up to 13,000 Nm across six frame sizes (100 to 315). Full torque is available from 0.1 RPM throughout the entire speed range.