NORD has expanded its ATEX product lineup to include a new area of application: gas explosion-protected drives featuring “increased safety” (Ex e) which are generally approved for speed-controlled operation with a frequency inverter. These geared motors are lighter by up to a fourth and cost up to 40% less than drives protected by a “flameproof enclosure” (Ex de) design. NORD’s Ex e drives are suitable for use in Zone 1 and 2 and with temperature class T3. The type approval certificate issued by the PTB, Germany, does not stipulate a specific make of frequency professional inverter, but does lay down various parameters for safe drive operation.
With more than 10,000 ATEX systems supplied annually at the time of writing, NORD is one of the most experienced specialists for explosion-protected drive technology, and can implement customer-specific designs even if users have exceptional requirements. These customized solutions may include e.g. drives feasible for mounting in an inclined position, or drives suitable for applications with problematic conditions, such as cooling air temperatures above 40 °C, or particularly high axial or radial forces. Besides the new Ex e solutions, NORD continues to supply speed-controlled ATEX systems with motors featuring Ex de or Ex n (“non sparking”) protection, as well as DIN EN 50281-1-1 compliant, dust explosion-protected models for Zone 21 and 22.