How do you prepare a motor requirement list for a new production line?

The requirement list should be prepared as a table in which every drive point on the line has its own row, and each row records power, speed, mounting arrangement, shaft size, environment and starting conditions. A list like this cuts down the back-and-forth of questions at quotation stage and lowers the risk of receiving the wrong motor.

How should the rows be organised?

Arrange the list in machine order rather than by motor type: feeding, conveying, processing, packing and so on. If there are several motors with the same specification, use a quantity column, but do not squeeze motors from different locations into a single row; one being outdoors and the other in an enclosed hall can change the selection.

The values in the table are only there to illustrate the layout.

Second-layer information to add to the table

• Supply voltage and frequency at the plant
• Starting method: unloaded or loaded, and whether a frequency inverter will be used
• Daily operating hours and how many times per hour it starts
• Environment: temperature, dust, humidity, outdoor installation
• A note if the direction of rotation is particularly important
• Need for spare motors and their quantity

Flag the uncertain items

Rather than leaving blank the data not yet received from the machine supplier, mark it “awaiting confirmation”. That way, quotations can be obtained for the confirmed items while the others are followed up separately. For items whose power is unknown, a preliminary estimate can be made with the calculation tools.

When the list is ready, submit it through the quotation request form or match the items one by one against the three-phase motor list in the shop.