32 n MOTORS May 2026 www.drivesncontrols.com Using the drive’s selectable control modes, the team fine-tuned it to deliver smooth, lifelike motion across the full operating range. The inverter’s built-in intelligence, including a soft-PLC, allowed speed profiles to be programmed precisely to mirror the natural characteristics of steam-driven machinery, without placing unnecessary mechanical stresses on the original components. Ease of operation was equally important for museum staff. A CFW300-KHMIR HMI module provides a simple, intuitive local control interface. It allows operators to start, stop and monitor the engine safely, while maintaining control over its operating parameters. To preserve the engine’s historical integrity, Sheffield Transmission engineered a custom drive coupling to connect the motor to the original crankshaft and flywheel assembly. This ensured that the engine could operate as it had done more than a century and a half ago, while remaining reversible. No historic components were altered or removed, safeguarding the machinery for future generations. The installation followed a meticulous engineering process. A detailed survey was used to design a discreet mounting system that blends into the existing layout. Careful calibration of the motor and inverter ensured the engine runs at historically accurate speeds, delivering an educational experience for visitors. The results have been transformative. Visitors to Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet can once again see and hear the steam engine in motion, experiencing its working rhythm much as it would have been in the 19th century. The demonstration has brought Sheffield’s industrial heritage to life, creating a powerful connection to the city’s past. By combining deep expertise of industrial drive systems with high-performance motor and inverter technology, the team delivered a system that was both technically precise and historically respectful, providing a model for museums seeking to animate original machinery without compromise. Beyond the technical achievement, the project reflects Sheffield Transmission and WEG’s shared commitment to heritage preservation. It demonstrates how modern engineering can be applied sensitively in historical environments, delivering safe, sustainable solutions that protect the integrity of the original machinery. “The results have been remarkable,” says WEG’s business development manager, Steven Eaton. “We created an engaging educational experience while safeguarding the engine’s historical fabric, showing how precision engineering can enhance the value of heritage sites.” n The steam engine is now being driven by an electric motor connected to the original crankshaft and flywheel assembly via a custom coupling Sales of high-efficiency motors will exceed $3bn by 2030 In a new report on the market for low-voltage AC motors with efficiency levels of IE4 or higher, the market intelligence specialist, Interact Analysis, predicts that 2026 will be a good year for highefficiency motors, with revenues expected to climb by 15%. This follows a market slowdown in 2025 when poor global macroeconomic conditions hindered demand. However, many motor suppliers reported that market conditions improved in the second half of the year. Rising demand for high-efficiency motors in some sectors, such as data centres, and mandatory legislation, especially in Europe, is helping to drive the growth. Interact is predicting an average annual growth rate of 12% between 2024-2030, with the market climbing from $1.6bn in 2024 to $3.1bn by 2030. “Many capital projects were paused during 2025 as uncertainty loomed and interest rates remained high,” explains Interact’s research manager, Blake Griffin. “As the year continued, the new economic reality surrounding US tariff policy normalised, while at the same time, borrowing conditions improved.” Interact says that the move towards highefficiency motors is inevitable. EU legislation is mandating that motors with ratings from 75– 200kW meet a minimum IE4 efficiency standard. This is the first legislative action to include IE4. More legislation is likely to follow both in Europe and in other regions. Griffin predicts that 2026 will be a peak year for high-efficiency motors in Europe as the remaining motors legislated to be IE4 are substituted away from IE3. “We expect the market will maintain high levels of growth, with market values in nearly every major region expected to double by 2030,” he says. In 2024, the Emea (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) region accounted for almost half (48.5%) of global revenues from high-efficiency motors. Europe was the first region to pass major legislation mandating the usage of motors with IE4 efficiency. Rising energy costs across the continent have also contributed to a surge in demand for high-efficiency motors since 2022. High-efficiency motor revenues reached $782.8m in Europe in 2024 and Interact predicts this will rise to $1.6bn by 2030. The second-largest market for high-efficiency motors is currently the Asia-Pacific region, accounting for $519.9m of revenue in 2024, and projected to rise to $942.6m by 2030. There is currently no major IE4 legislation in the area, with demand being driven by the sheer scale of manufacturing there. The Americas accounted for 19.4% of highefficiency market revenues in 2024 ($312.9m, rising to $600m by 2030). Although there is strong growth in the sector, a lack of legislation has hindered the pace of adoption in the region. The high-efficiency motors market is expected to demonstrate strong growth in the period to 2030. Source: Interact Analysis
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