DEPRAG air motors, also known as pneumatic motors, are the right choice when a drive needs to be durable, robust, overload-resistant, compact, and powerful.
From versatile standard motors and hygienic or ATEX-compliant versions to custom-engineered solutions, you receive a drive solution precisely matched to your application, installation conditions, and operating requirements.
Air motors for your application
DEPRAG offers a comprehensive catalog range of pneumatic drives for industrial applications. Depending on the required power, speed, duty cycle, and installation conditions, vane motors, turbines, gear motors, or individually and custom-engineered air drives are used.
Our experts support you in selecting the technically and economically suitable solution.
What is an air motor?
An air motor is a drive that uses compressed air to generate mechanical rotary motion. As the compressed supply air expands, pressure energy is converted into kinetic energy and thus into the rotational movement of the rotor. This safe and robust drive system is used particularly when an overload-resistant and powerful motor is required.
Even when conventional drive technologies reach their limits under demanding conditions, a pneumatic motor is the right choice.
Tailored to your specific application, DEPRAG offers, for example:
- sealed air motors for the food industry that can be operated oil-free and are resistant to cleaning agents,
- sterilizable air motors for medical technology,
- particularly robust air motors for harsh environmental conditions, such as drives for sewer milling robots,
- ATEX-compliant complete systems consisting of an air motor, holding brake, and gearbox for potentially explosive atmospheres.
We determine the most economical and safest air motor for your application. The right solution may come from our catalog range or consist of an individually engineered, complex drive system.
DEPRAG air motors and technologies
Which air motor is suitable for an application depends, among other factors, on the required power, speed, torque, duty cycle, and the specific environmental conditions.
DEPRAG offers three basic motor principles as well as a broad standard range, modularly configurable versions, and individually engineered drive solutions. Complementary gearboxes, holding brakes, and speed controllers enable precise adaptation to your application.
Vane motors: versatile and flexible
Vane motors are the versatile all-rounders among air motors. Their compact design, high power density, and overload resistance make them a proven solution for a wide range of industrial drive applications.
DEPRAG’s broad standard range can be flexibly adapted to your application with different spindles, mounting options, materials, and gearboxes.
- broad standard range
- compact and overload-resistant
- modularly configurable
- reversible
Turbines: high speeds and continuous operation
DEPRAG turbines are compact and powerful drives for high-speed applications. They operate in one direction, oil-free, and without conventional wear parts such as vanes. The integrated speed controller ensures a constant speed under load.
They are particularly suitable for continuous operation, dynamic machining processes, and as starters for combustion engines and gas turbines.
- oil-free operation
- high speeds
- low wear and suitable for continuous operation
Gear motors: custom-engineered and oil-free
Gear motors are oil-free pneumatic drives that are individually tailored to the specific application.
They are used particularly when high speeds and continuous operation are required. Their main advantages include low noise levels and minimal wear.
- oil-free operation
- custom-engineered design
- low wear and suitable for continuous operation
- reversible
INDIVIDUAL LINE – custom air motors
Not every drive application can be solved with a standard motor. Limited installation space, special environmental conditions, or specific requirements for power, speed, and torque may call for a custom solution.
DEPRAG adapts existing standard motors to your application or develops a fully customized drive system. We specifically tailor the key characteristics to your requirements. Thanks to the modular design of our air motors, even custom-made solutions can be implemented economically.
Request a custom drive solution
Air motors often operate at comparatively high speeds. If the application requires a lower output speed or higher torque, the motor can be combined with a suitable gearbox.
DEPRAG offers numerous standard motors with integrated gearboxes. This eliminates the need for complex interface and design adaptations between the motor and gearbox for machine and system builders.
Depending on the application, different gearbox concepts are available:
For applications where a load must be held securely in position when the motor is switched off, air motors with an integrated holding brake are available.
In the event of a pressure drop, the brake is automatically activated. This allows the output spindle to be held in position without additional air consumption. As soon as the required operating pressure is restored, the brake is released and the motor can start again.
For potentially explosive atmospheres, DEPRAG offers ATEX-compliant complete systems consisting of an air motor, holding brake, and gearbox.
Features
- secure holding of a position
- brake automatically activated in the event of a pressure drop
- ATEX-compliant complete systems available
A speed controller is suitable for all applications where a constant speed must be reliably maintained under changing loads, such as in an agitator. It provides an innovative system solution for compensating for speed fluctuations.
Features
- universally applicable
- wide control range
- high-resolution, precise control
The food industry, medical technology, pharmaceutical industry, and chemical industry have special requirements for hygiene, cleanability, and material resistance.
For these applications, DEPRAG offers stainless steel air motors as well as sealed and easy-to-clean versions. Suitable materials and surface finishes help ensure resistance to water, cleaning agents, and other media.
Depending on the motor version, the drives can be operated oil-free, used underwater, or designed for sterilizable applications. The modular system also allows components such as the drive spindle, mounting, and gearbox to be adapted to the specific installation conditions.
For oil-free operation, a corresponding loss of performance must be taken into account depending on the motor and its configuration.
Features
- stainless steel and resistant materials
- sealed and easy-to-clean versions
- oil-free operation depending on the version
- solutions for hygiene and sterilization requirements
Applications for air motors
Their simple design, low power-to-weight ratio, wide speed range, and overload resistance give air motors a broad range of applications, including use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
By selecting suitable materials, seals, and motor versions, air motors can be adapted to different operating and environmental conditions.
TIP: Our guide to selecting air motors
Selecting the right air motor depends on numerous technical and operational requirements. Our guide helps you systematically identify the relevant criteria and create a sound basis for selecting the appropriate motor.
The guide supports you with:
- selecting the appropriate motor principle,
- choosing suitable materials,
- calculating the air motor,
- designing the complete drive system.
Service and quality for long-term reliable drives
From optimal air motor sizing to performance testing of existing drives, DEPRAG offers a comprehensive range of services.
We support you throughout the entire life cycle of your air motor: from suitable accessories and regular maintenance and repair to technical testing and training.
The right air motor for your application
Are you looking to select a new air motor, replace an existing drive, or develop a custom solution?
Our specialists support you in selecting and sizing the right air motor. We take into account all technical and operational requirements relevant to your application. Together, we identify the most economical and safest air motor for your needs – either as a standard motor from our catalog range or as a custom-engineered system solution.
FAQ on the air motor
The most important types include vane motors, turbines, and gear motors. Vane motors are versatile drives that can be configured flexibly. Turbines are particularly suitable for high speeds and continuous operation. Gear motors are individually designed for special requirements and installation conditions.
Air motors are characterized by their compact design, high power density, and robust operation. They are easy to control and can be loaded to a standstill without sustaining damage.
The most important advantages include:
- compact and powerful design
- overload resistance up to standstill
- continuously variable control
- operation in both directions of rotation
- high resistance to heat, dust, and vibrations
- depending on the version, suitable for ATEX, hygienic, underwater, or medical applications
Air motors are used in numerous industries, including the automotive, food, chemical, and paper industries, as well as foundries, shipbuilding, and medical technology. Their robust design, high power density, and easy controllability make them suitable for a wide range of drive applications.
Typical applications include:
- hand tools such as drilling, grinding, and screwdriving tools
- machine drives for pumps, agitators, and conveying systems
- automated transport, clamping, and gripping tasks
- drives in potentially explosive or particularly demanding environments
The energy efficiency of an air motor is generally lower than that of a comparable electric motor. However, from a technical and economic perspective, an air motor can still be the better solution, particularly for short or cyclical operation, high overloads, and demanding environmental conditions.
Proper motor sizing, sufficient line cross-sections, and operation close to the optimal operating point are essential for efficient performance.
The speed of an air motor can be continuously adjusted by varying the operating pressure or the supplied air flow. Exhaust air throttling primarily reduces the speed without significantly reducing torque. With supply air throttling, power and torque are reduced as well.
The appropriate control method depends on the motor and the specific load profile.
As torque increases, the speed of the air motor decreases. When the maximum possible torque is reached, the motor comes to a standstill without being damaged by the overload. As soon as the load decreases again, the motor automatically starts running again.
With vane and gear motors, air consumption also generally decreases as the load increases.
![[Translate to :]](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/8/csm_turbine-vs-elektromotor_ee0700b226.jpg "[Translate to :]")
