Featured IECEx & CE Certified High & Low Voltage Ex Motors
Modern heavy industries demand absolute compliance and zero-failure safety standards in hazardous environments. From volatile chemical processing units to underground coal mines filled with explosive gases, the application of CE, ATEX, and IECEx certified explosion-proof motors is vital to protect lives and secure operational uptime.
Explosion-proof motors act as critical barriers that prevent internal electrical faults, arcs, or thermal energy from igniting external volatile atmospheres containing combustible gas, vapor, dust, or fibers. Under the European Union’s ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU and global IECEx standards, equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres must undergo stringent conformity assessments.
Integrating high-efficiency (IE3, IE4, and IE5) topologies within explosion-proof envelopes has revolutionized heavy industry. Operators are no longer forced to choose between the robustness of an flameproof enclosure (Ex d) and the energy savings of a modern variable frequency drive (VFD) motor. Variable frequency drives allow petrochemical pumps, ventilation blowers, and mining conveyors to run at optimized speeds, significantly reducing operational expenditure (OPEX) and lowering carbon footprints.
Unifying ATEX, IECEx, CSA, UL, SABS, and TESTSAFE standards to deliver global market access and local compliance for hazardous operations.
Integration of permanent magnet synchronous (PMSM) technologies and high-efficiency induction systems achieving IE4 & IE5 limits.
Ex d, Ex de, Ex p, and Ex t configurations built from high-tensile cast iron and steel structures designed using multi-physics simulations.
Shaanxi Nanfang Motor Technology Co., Ltd. is the authorized global distributor of Wolong Electric Drive Group Co., Ltd. (founded in 1984, listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2002 under ticker code SH600580). Over nearly four decades of strategic expansion and technology consolidation, Wolong has grown to operate 3 major manufacturing bases, 39 state-of-the-art factories, and 3 global R&D centers.
Wolong represents a collection of the world's most prestigious motor engineering legacies. By acquiring historic European and American brands, Wolong has integrated a wealth of technical expertise:
Premium Components Engineered for Maximum Protection and Reliability
The rotor features the squirrel cage design, with cast aluminum rotors being widely utilized. These rotors are produced using either centrifugal aluminum casting or die-casting techniques, where molten pure aluminum is poured into the slots of the rotor core, resulting in a single-piece construction that integrates the rotor bars and end rings.
The structural integrity and manufacturing process of cast aluminum rotors guarantee the motor rotor's reliability, and also endow the motor with outstanding torque properties. For larger capacity motors, copper bar rotors are employed, which benefit from dependable bar securing and end ring welding procedures. Additionally, the protective ring design of high-speed motors further ensures the reliable operation of the copper bar rotor.
The coil is crafted from polyester film and reinforced with glass cloth, utilizing either low-powder mica tape with a high mica content or medium-powdered mica tape with an abundance of mica. Following the VPI (Vacuum Pressure Impregnation) process, a pristine white coil emerges from the production line.
After the billet is extracted from the wire, it proceeds through the VPI process to transform into a finished unit. The winding and insulation are meticulously engineered to provide exceptional electrical performance, mechanical strength, resistance to moisture, and thermal stability.
The motor frame employs a fully digital platform for structural and fluid multi-physics field simulations. This simulation platform retains the original patent's structure and design, utilizing mature, high-strength cast iron (or steel as an alternative).
The frame boasts exceptional structural redundancy, outstanding heat dissipation properties, and ample inherent frequency isolation margins for the entire machine. It is engineered to endure significant mechanical shocks, maintain a superior vibration level, and ensure a lower temperature increase in the motor.
The low-noise fan cover system comprises a fan cover body, an air guide cylinder, a protective window, and a silencer plate. Its compact structure and lightweight design facilitate vibration reduction. The air inlet is situated on the side, which optimizes the avoidance of obstacles behind the motor, minimizing adverse effects on ventilation and reducing noise caused by energy loss during propagation path changes.
The system also incorporates sound-absorbing materials that absorb noise, thereby lowering the overall motor noise. Additionally, the fan cover is rated IP22, ensuring that hands cannot come into contact with the fan.
Unlocking Volatile Markets with Certified Safety and Reliability
WOLONG employs a globalized marketing and regulatory strategy. Our explosion-proof products undergo rigorous conformity tests at international laboratories to break trade barriers and protect field personnel in different territories.
ATEX / Nemko
CSA Standard
CE Mark
IECEx Standard
Additionally, we hold certifications including UL, SABS, CC (CCC), and TESTSAFE. The TESTSAFE accreditation is critical for mining machinery, opening up direct distribution into coal mines in Australia and the wider APAC region.
Serving Volatile Engineering Infrastructures in Harsh Environments
VFD explosion-proof asynchronous and synchronous motors power upstream offshore platforms, refining stations, and gas pipeline compressors. The positive-pressure housing motors (Ex p) prevent ingress of Group IIC gases, protecting high-capacity drives from explosive events.
WOLONG's flameproof AC motors (YBSD, YBSS, and Morley series) are engineered for heavy conveyor belts, slurry pumps, and coal shearers. Designed to withstand explosive methane gas (Group I) and abrasive coal dust, they offer high startup torques and low thermal output.
Laurence Scott auxiliary drives supply low starting current setups to nuclear cooling systems and grid structures. High-temperature flameproof squirrel-cage induction systems maintain operation during emergency vents and containment routines.
"With 39 production bases worldwide in Europe, China, the US, and Southeast Asia, Shaanxi Nanfang Motor and WOLONG ensure local spares availability, rapid system testing, and responsive engineering support to keep plant operations safe and compliant."
Transitioning Heavy Industrial Drives to Sustainable, High-Efficiency Topologies
The future of safe industrial drive design centers on high efficiency and integrated health diagnostics. Wolong is driving innovation across key technological areas:
Technical Answers from Shaanxi Nanfang Motor's Senior Engineers
CE Mark: Indicates compliance with EU safety, health, and environmental protection directives. For explosion-proof motors, this involves meeting the ATEX Directive.
ATEX Directive (2014/34/EU): Mandatory for all equipment operated in hazardous zones within the European Economic Area (EEA). It evaluates both mechanical safety and electrical safety against spark hazards.
IECEx: The international scheme for certifying equipment for explosive atmospheres. While ATEX is legal code in Europe, IECEx is widely accepted globally, including in Australia, the Americas, and Asia, facilitating simpler cross-border compliance.
The Vacuum Pressure Impregnation (VPI) process removes air bubbles and moisture from the stator coils using a vacuum, then forces high-grade solventless epoxy resin deep into the windings under pressure.
This forms a solid, void-free insulation barrier that prevents electrical breakdown (corona discharges) and improves heat dissipation. It also protects the stator against moisture, chemical vapors, and mechanical vibrations in heavy industrial environments.
Standard motors cannot simply be used with Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) in hazardous areas without certifying the complete motor-VFD combination. VFD operation can introduce high thermal loads at low speeds and high voltage spikes (dv/dt).
Explosion-proof motors (such as the WEBP3 and TBVF series) are specifically designed and certified for VFD duty. They are built with thermal sensors (PTC/PT100) embedded in the windings to shut down the drive if temperatures exceed safety thresholds (e.g., T4 limits).
Ex d (Flameproof Enclosure): The enclosure can withstand an internal explosion without transmitting the flame to the surrounding volatile atmosphere. Joints and flamepaths are designed to cool escaping gas before it exit the frame.
Ex p (Pressurized Enclosure): The motor is purged and pressurized with clean air or an inert gas. This maintains an internal pressure higher than the surrounding atmosphere, preventing combustible gases from entering the motor enclosure.
Explore our global heavy-duty explosion-proof motors
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