Balancing Performance and Protection: How to Extend the Life of Industrial Electric Motors

December 08, 2025
Discover how VJ Pamensky helps industries extend the life of industrial electric motors, with high-efficiency technology and energy-smart automation systems.
Cluster of electric motors organized in uniform rows, arranged on a wooden pallet for industrial assembly.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) operating in industrial automation, mining or manufacturing sectors know that system reliability depends on motor longevity. VJ Pamensky (WEG Canada) understands that striking the right balance between performance and protection can significantly reduce failure rates, increase uptime and optimize long-term operational efficiency for electric motors.

Understanding Why Industrial Motors Fail Prematurely

Electric motors are robust by design, but they are not immune to the harsh realities of industrial environments. Common culprits behind early motor failures include:

  • Excessive heat buildup from overloaded systems or insufficient ventilation
  • Electrical imbalances like phase loss or voltage spikes
  • Contamination from dust, moisture or chemicals, leading to insulation breakdown.
  • Mechanical stresses, such as misalignment or improper mounting
  • Improper start/stop cycles, especially in high-inertia load applications.

OEMs can address these challenges at the design stage by integrating protection strategies tailored to application-specific demands.

Start-Up Stress and the Role of Soft Starters

One of the most overlooked aspects of electric motor health is how start-up behaviour affects wear and tear. Direct-on-line (DOL) starting methods deliver full voltage instantly, which can cause high inrush currents and mechanical shocks.

By integrating soft starters, OEMs can:

  • Limit inrush current during start-up
  • Reduce mechanical stress on motor couplings and gearboxes
  • Minimize voltage dips across the network
  • Improve energy efficiency during ramp-up

Soft starters are especially valuable in any application where load inertia is significant, such as conveyor systems, fans and compressors.

Multiple WEG SSW07 soft starter units organized on an assembly bench in an industrial setting.

The Importance of Proper Motor Protection Devices

Choosing the right protective devices can mean the difference between uninterrupted operation and costly downtime. Some key components include:

  • Thermistors: Provide resistive feedback to motor controllers through embedded sensors.
  • RTDs (Resistance Temperature Detectors): Offer precise winding and bearing temperature monitoring.
  • Overload relays: Detect excess current and trigger shutdowns to prevent overheating.

When integrated properly, these devices create a layered defense against operational threats, allowing OEMs to protect motors without sacrificing performance.

Environmental Factors: Silent Motor Killers

Motors operating in harsh conditions, like food & beverage plants or mining sites, face environmental stresses that accelerate wear:

  • Dust and particles can clog ventilation, reduce cooling and damage windings.
  • Vibration from nearby equipment can loosen mountings or misalign shafts.
  • High ambient temperatures increase the thermal load on motors, especially in enclosed spaces.

Designing with protection in mind, such as using TEFC (Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled) motors or incorporating vibration-damping mounts, helps mitigate these external risks.

Preventive Maintenance: The Long-Term Strategy

Reactive repairs are expensive. Preventive maintenance strategies are key for OEMs aiming to deliver long-term value:

  • Schedule periodic insulation resistance tests to detect winding degradation.
  • Regularly clean enclosures and filters to maintain airflow.
  • Log vibration and thermal readings to spot early warning signs.
  • Update firmware and re-calibrate protection devices on schedule.

These steps allow end-users to maintain optimal performance while avoiding surprise failures, an added value OEMs can promote to differentiate their systems.

Technician performing preventive maintenance on a suspended electric motor inside an industrial facility.

OEM Design Strategies That Balance Performance and Protection

When developing motor-based systems, OEMs must strike a careful balance between:

  • Performance (power density, response times, duty cycle)
  • Protection (thermal management, overload control, environmental sealing)
  • Efficiency (energy usage, maintenance intervals, lifecycle cost)

VJ Pamensky supports OEMs with reliable electric motors and motor control products that align with these priorities, helping customers build systems that perform consistently under pressure.

Conclusion

OEMs can dramatically extend the life of electric motors in industrial environments by focusing on robust design, intelligent motor protection and strategic maintenance. This results in improved system reliability, reduced downtime and long-term cost savings, all essential elements to remain competitive in today’s industrial automation landscape.

Contact VJ Pamensky today to source high-performance electric motors, soft starters and protection devices that meet your OEM specifications. Our team can help you design for durability, efficiency and uptime.