NORD Features Smart, Efficient Drives and Analytics at PACK EXPO

In modern packaging systems, drive systems are the primary workhorses that allow system operation and flexibility. Across the tasks of conveying, palletizing, and storing systems, motion control systems now offer connectivity that allows all of these systems to work in harmony.

At PACK EXPO, NORD Drivesystems made a strong motion-oriented showing with demos centered around NORDAC drives, IE5+ motors, and condition monitoring systems. The booth provided a clear vision of drive intelligence as an integral component of next‑generation packaging automation.

NORD Variable Frequency Drives

At their booth, NORD featured the NORDAC ON/ON+ variable frequency drive (VFDs) line as a central component to decentralized motion systems. These drives are mounted directly onto the motor to allow all motion to be controlled at the point of application. Network connectivity provides PLC control with a rigid IP55 or above ingress rating.

ON/ON+ VFDs are mounted directly to the motor for distributed control.

The ON+ version is tuned for IE5+ synchronous motors, providing coordinated operation while ensuring high efficiency targeted by modern operations. These NORDAC drives can be programmed to run over a network or locally controlled, with connection and parameter setting being accomplished in a similar manner to typical VFDs.

High-Efficiency Motors

To go along with the drives, NORD provides a comprehensive lineup of synchronous and asynchronous motors. The high-efficiency IE5+ synchronous motor series has taken center stage for a number of recent product demonstrations. NORD’s IE5+ motors include fanless designs and constant torque output over the entire speed range, which reduces the need to stock multiple motor variants for various motion profiles.

NORD’s catalog of motors includes models for a variety of special applications. Hygiene versions with an IP69K rating and surface treatments can be used for washdown or food‑grade packaging environments. Explosion-proof motors can be used under extreme conditions where sparks can produce catastrophic damage if the environment contains particulates or gasses.

NORD’s wide range of VFDs for use with high-efficiency motors.

Condition Monitoring for Motors

Along with the motors and drive hardware, NORD also demonstrated condition monitoring and predictive analytics tools that are included in the drive systems. In the live booth demos, visitors can see the data dashboards showing real-time drive status, vibration estimates, temperature, and sensor data to provide estimates of remaining usable component life.

Alerts triggered in these data dashboards can be used to inform operators to take preventive actions or perform maintenance before failure. By adopting this strategy, unplanned downtime is replaced by planned interventions advised by data coming from the actual equipment health metrics. By integrating condition monitoring directly into drives rather than relying on separate external systems, NORD can present a far simpler, lower‑cost diagnostics solution.

NORD’s demonstration of condition monitoring for motors and drive units.

Keeping the Future in Motion

NORD’s exhibits at PACK EXPO underscore the vision that drive systems will continue to evolve from individual networked components toward more intelligent, modular packages that present entire motion control and maintenance solutions within a single device.

By combining high-efficiency IE5+ motors, integrated variable frequency drives, and condition monitoring directly on the device, NORD helps manufacturers reduce energy usage and accelerate deployment and maintenance operations. The message is clear: packaging is becoming more flexible and demanding, so drives can’t be simply the source of the motion commands, they will act as the central nervous system that gives life to responsive, adaptive, and resilient machines.