Paper and Board Converting Machine Electric Motors

Paper and board converting machines turn finished paper reels or board sheets into usable products: corrugated board lines, reel slitter rewinders, paper guillotines, die cutters, folder gluers and paper core machines. In these machines the electric motor turns rollers, the knife, a hydraulic pump, a suction fan or a vacuum pump. Makers’ catalogues list guillotine main motors of 2.2–11 kW, a flatbed die cutter at 11 kW, single facer main motors of 18–22 kW with suction fans of 11–15 kW, and the main motor of a flexo box line at 40 kW. Pulpers and shredders that turn waste paper into pulp are not covered here; see our paper and cardboard recycling machine motors page, and for the paper machine that makes the paper itself our article on motor selection in paper and pulp plants.

DRG Motor is a manufacturer, supplier and seller of electric motors. We do not sell corrugators, guillotines, cutting dies, knives, hydraulic units, vacuum pumps, gearboxes, servo systems or drives; we deliver the three-phase asynchronous motor at the heart of each drive. Models are on the Buy Electric Motors Online page.

From reel to box: which motor on which machine?

In a packaging plant the flow is roughly this: paper reels become board on the corrugated line or are slit into narrow reels on a slitter; sheets pass through printing, die cutting and folder gluing to become boxes. On the print and stationery side, a guillotine cuts paper stacks to size. Each machine has one main drive and several auxiliary motors.

Corrugated line auxiliaries

The heart of the line is the single facer: heated corrugating rolls flute the medium and glue it to the liner. The main motor drives the rolls, while a suction fan creates the vacuum that holds the fluted paper on the roll; two makers’ sheets give 18–22 kW for the main motor and 11–15 kW for the fan. The bridge, double backer, slitter-scorer and cut-off follow; the cut-off and some slitting knives run on servo motors.

Slitter rewinders and paper core machines

On a reel slitter the wide parent reel is unwound, cut into strips by circular knives and rewound. In one catalogue machines of 1300–1800 mm have a total of 24–30 kW, with rewind tension controlled by servo motors. A simpler slitter shows a single 5.5 kW motor, a paper core machine a 4.4 kW main and a 0.75 kW auxiliary motor.

Die cutting, folder gluing and the guillotine

On a flatbed die cutter the main motor presses the lower platen against the die through a crank or toggle; on one 1050 model this motor is 11 kW. On a folder gluer the drives for belts and folding belts total 12–15 kW for the machine. On a programmable guillotine the main motor moves the knife and the clamp is hydraulic on most models; small motors also run the air table pump and the back gauge (paper pusher).

How many kW is a paper converting machine motor? Catalogue values

A) Converting machinery catalogues give the following motor ratings:

On these catalogues, paper and board converting machines show auxiliary motors of about 0.55–0.75 kW, guillotine and cutting drives of 2.2–11 kW, suction fans of 11–15 kW, corrugator main motors of 18–22 kW and box line main motors up to 40 kW. Rows marked “machine total” are the sum of several motors and must not be read as a single motor.

B) Overlap with the DRG range: every single-motor rating in the table falls within our 0.25–355 kW range; 0.55–0.75 kW auxiliaries match an 80 frame, 3–5.5 kW guillotine and slitter motors 100L–132S, 11–22 kW cutting, fan and corrugator main motors 160M–180L, and the 40 kW main drive a 225M frame. Since there is no exact 40 kW model, the next rating up (45 kW) is chosen. Outside our range are servo motors for position-controlled axes such as the cut-off, slitter tension and back gauge, brake motors, and explosion-protected (Ex) motors for dusty zones.

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Main drive and speed control

Main motors on frequency converters

On a corrugator, a slitter and a folder gluer the line speed changes with the product, so the main motor is usually fed by a frequency converter. A standard asynchronous motor runs comfortably on a drive; where the line crawls at full torque for hours, the shaft-mounted fan moves less air and cooling must be checked. Drives are not in our range; the voltage, current and speed from the motor nameplate are entered into the drive.

Hydraulic guillotine and press pumps

If the guillotine clamp or a baler cylinder is hydraulic, the motor only turns the pump; the power needed comes from pump flow and pressure. Our hydraulic pump motor kW calculation article walks through it with numbers. Pump motors are mostly 4-pole and fitted to the pump by B35 or a bell housing flange.

Suction fans, vacuum and paper dust

The single facer suction fan, the fan carrying edge trim on a die cutter and the guillotine air table pump are where motors meet the most dust in paper converting. The single facer fan works at high pressure to create the vacuum that holds paper on the roll. For vacuum systems that hold sheets in feeders, see our vacuum pump motor article.

Dust on the motor surface

DRG motors are IP55; paper and board dust does not get inside the motor, but it builds up on the frame cooling fins and the fan cover grille. Built-up dust blocks cooling and makes the motor run hot, so the cover needs regular cleaning. If the area is classified as a hazardous zone because of dust, an Ex motor is required and that type is not in our range.

Worked example: what replaces an 18 kW corrugator main motor?

Assume the main motor of the 2-ply single facer from the sheet is 18 kW and 4-pole, running at 1470 rpm. We have no 18 kW model; the nearest rating up is 18.5 kW:

The old motor delivers 9550 × 18 / 1470 ≈ 116.9 Nm at the shaft. DRG-180M-4 covers this with 120.2 Nm rated torque at the same speed. Choosing 18.5 kW rather than the next model of 22 kW avoids running the motor at part load. Frame and shaft (180M, 48×110 mm) are compared with the old motor; if the old one was a 180L frame, the foot holes differ and the base needs new holes.

Line current with the suction fan

If the 11 kW suction fan is 2-pole, its equivalent is DRG-160M1-2 (19.6 A). Together with the main motor’s 33.5 A, the two motors draw about 53.1 A at 400 V. The fan starts direct-on-line or star-delta; for contactor and overload values you can use our overload, fuse and contactor selection tool.

DRG motors for paper and board converting machines

Models covering the power steps from auxiliary motors to the main drive of a printed box line:

Main drives are commonly 4-pole, suction fans 2-pole depending on the machine; a new motor should repeat the pole count of the one it replaces. Up to 11 kW there are aluminium and cast iron frames, above that cast iron. Frames can be supplied for B3 foot, B5 or B14 flange, or B35 foot-and-flange mounting. Small tabletop guillotines and creasers may come with a single-phase motor; on converting lines we recommend three-phase only.

Live price table

Prices of models matching paper and board converting machines come live from the store:

DRG MOTOR motors are guaranteed against material and manufacturing defects for 2 years from the delivery date (warranty certificate).

Motors in this power range

• DRG-802-4 – 0.75 kW – 1420 rpm – 80 cast iron
• DRG-112M-4 – 4 kW – 1450 rpm – 112M cast iron
• DRG-160M-4 – 11 kW – 1465 rpm – 160M cast iron
• DRG-180M-4 – 18.5 kW – 1470 rpm – 180M cast iron
• DRG-225M-4 – 45 kW – 1485 rpm – 225M cast iron

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Browse the products, ask for a quote: guillotine, corrugator, die cutter and fan motors are on the Buy Electric Motors Online page. Name the machine and the drive, then send a plate photo via WhatsApp; you can also call +90 (542) 666 11 11.

Frequently asked questions

How many kW should a guillotine main motor be?

It depends on cutting width: in one catalogue 2.2 kW for a 680 mm machine, 4 kW for 1150–1370 mm machines and 11 kW for 2400 mm. On replacement keep the old motor’s power and speed.

Can I buy the corrugator servo motor from you?

No. Servo motors for the cut-off and position-controlled axes are not in our range; we cover main drive, fan, pump and conveyor motors.

Does paper dust burn out the motor?

Dust does not get inside, but if it builds up on the frame it blocks cooling. Keep the fan cover and fins clean and there is no problem.

For questions: +90 (542) 666 11 11 · info@drgmotor.com · contact.