Advanced Industrial Solutions with High Efficiency & Safety Approvals
In highly regulated industries such as offshore drilling, petrochemical refining, subterranean coal mining, and aerospace, the deployment of explosive-proof motor systems is non-negotiable. Shaanxi Nanfang Motor Technology Co., Ltd stands at the absolute forefront of this niche, serving as the core authorized global distributor of Wolong Electric Drive Group Co., Ltd (founded in 1984, listed under SH600580 in 2002). Our business philosophy combines high-end engineering expertise with a robust logistics network, ensuring critical explosion-proof electric drives reach facilities requiring compliance under European CE standards, ATEX Directives, and international IECEx frameworks.
Through strategic acquisitions, Wolong has systematically absorbed the global industry's most historically reliable and technically brilliant motor brands. Today, the corporation oversees 39 factories, 3 key global manufacturing bases, and 4 specialized R&D facilities located across China, Japan, Europe, and India. This synergistic structure enables the delivery of standard-setting electric drives, integrating legacies from premium brands like ATB, Brook Crompton, Morley, Laurence Scott, Schorch, OLI, and GE Industrial Motors. Shaanxi Nanfang Motor coordinates the procurement, compliance verification, and localized application design for these systems on a global scale.
Explosion protection motors represent the safety backbone of the heavy process industries. Geopolitically, the growth of chemical plants, deep underground mineral mining, gas transport networks, and hydrogen infrastructure dictates the demand for motors designed to contain internal combustions or eliminate potential ignition sources altogether. The European market relies heavily on the strict framework of the CE marking, governed by the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU. In parallel, the Asia-Pacific region, led by massive petrochemical expansions, standardizes around the IECEx scheme, while the Americas maintain reliance on UL/CSA certifications conforming to NEC guidelines.
From a macro perspective, the transition to high-efficiency ratings (IE4 and IE5) has introduced technological hurdles. As motor frames require optimal designs to yield higher energy outputs, their insulation classes and enclosure integrity must undergo complete re-engineering. This holds true for variable frequency drive (VFD) applications where harmonic content increases operating temperatures, presenting additional challenges for explosive atmospheres. The consolidation of major brands under Wolong ensures that global engineering portfolios meet these diverse and conflicting constraints with extreme reliability, providing unified drive solutions that comply with multiple regulatory frameworks concurrently.
By bringing the world's most advanced motor manufacturers under one structural roof, Wolong has created a diversified portfolio that addresses unique, sector-specific challenges. This integration allows Shaanxi Nanfang Motor to provide optimized choices for custom configurations.
Acquired in 2011, ATB is a cornerstone of European motor manufacturing. Its subsidiary Morley boasts over 130 years of subterranean coal mining specialization, defining durability and safety in harsh environments.
A century-old authority in low, medium, and high voltage AC drives. Famous for their premium 'W' and '10' series, they lead the market in designing highly energy-efficient motors for harsh process areas.
Established in 1882, Schorch motors are the global gold standard for oil, gas, chemical processing, marine systems, and tunnels, catering to massive critical installations worldwide.
Integrated in 2018, GE's industrial motor division supplies global heavy industry including water treatment, mining, paper mills, and steel processing, bringing colossal design support to Wolong.
With a joint venture dating back to 1999, OLI provides the world's leading portfolio in Ex vibration motors (MVE series) and Ex vibration sensors, crucial for industrial separation and flow promotion.
Acquired in 2015, CNE represents China’s premier R&D base for explosion-proof drives, providing critical products for nuclear installations, military, and large petroleum refineries.
Renowned for providing low-starting-current machines for nuclear plants and custom marine generators for defense vessels, Laurence Scott is a three-time Queen’s Award recipient.
The manufacturing process of Wolong explosion protection motors relies on dynamic digital platforms capable of multi-physics simulation. Fluid flow, structural strain, and electromagnetic flux are designed and simulated concurrently to ensure safety integrity before components enter the physical foundry. Below is a physical dissection of our primary technological modules:
Featuring a heavy squirrel-cage design. For standard applications, cast aluminum rotors are built using centrifugal or high-pressure die-casting to integrate the rotor bars and end rings seamlessly. For heavy-duty motors, copper bar rotors are used, secured by advanced end-ring welding and dynamic protective ring enclosures, guaranteeing mechanical integrity during high speeds.
The stator coils use high-purity polyester film wrapped in reinforced glass cloth alongside premium mica tape (low or medium powder). After winding, the entire stator core undergoes the VPI (Vacuum Pressure Impregnation) process. This creates a solid, moisture-resistant insulation layer with high mechanical strength and thermal stability.
Constructed from high-strength cast iron or structural steel. Frame designs are optimized via FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to isolate natural vibration frequencies. The frame provides high mechanical safety margins, allowing the motor to withstand severe shocks and harsh thermal shifts without physical distortion.
Comprising an aerodynamic guide cylinder, silencer plates, and sound-absorbing materials. The side-entry air intake design optimizes ventilation efficiency, minimizing turbulent sound waves. Rated at IP22 safety protection, the hood isolates rotating parts from human contact while reducing motor operating noise.
Exporting electrical equipment into hazardous environments requires strict adherence to localized and international regulatory standards. Shaanxi Nanfang Motor ensures all motors are certified for quick global clearance. The acquired certificates provide a reliable pathway to install our motor drives in high-risk zones across Europe, Australia, South Africa, and North America.
As an ISO 9001 certified explosion-proof motor supplier, Wolong maintains strict trace-control over materials, casting, winding, assembly, and pressure testing. For European Union deployment, motors carry the CE mark alongside official ATEX certification (Directive 2014/34/EU), certified by notified bodies like Nemko. For global markets, IECEx compliance guarantees standard safety parameters, enabling direct installation across Zones 1 and 2.
For North America, we perform thorough testing in compliance with NEMA electrical and mechanical parameters, securing UL and CSA marks for low and medium voltage configurations. For underground mining projects in Oceania, our equipment carries Australian TESTSAFE certification. This specialized mining approval verifies flameproof motor durability in heavy subterranean mine setups.
Nemko/ATEX
CSA
CE
CCC
SABS
TESTSAFE
Hazardous area electric drives must fit within complex process systems. Rather than simple point-to-point hardware sales, Shaanxi Nanfang Motor delivers macro solutions tailored to specific, highly volatile operational settings:
Refineries and gas pipelines require motors that run continuously without spark risks. Our positive pressure shell type motors (such as the YZYKK series) and variable frequency explosion-proof models handle long pump cycles and high-flow gas compression while ensuring safety in explosive gas areas.
Coal mining environments demand highly robust flameproof drives. The Morley brand legacy under ATB, along with CNE's flameproof conveyor motor lines (such as the YBSS and YBC series), are built to withstand coal dust impacts, high humidity, and explosive methane concentrations in deep-shaft setups.
Operating at sea exposes machinery to corrosive salt spray and high moisture levels. Our marine grade motors (such as the YQ series), certified by DNV, combine explosion safety with anti-corrosive coatings, marine heating elements, and heavy-duty shaft seals to handle deck-winch and ballast-pump tasks.
Each setup requires specific parameter tuning. Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) must match the motor's reactive inductance to prevent high-frequency insulation degradation. When configuring pump drives, our engineers calculate starting torques and thermal curves under load, ensuring the motor operates safely within its designated temperature classification limit (T4 or T5).
The development of explosion-proof motors focuses on combining efficiency upgrades with real-time predictive safety systems. In traditional designs, thermal margins were oversized to ensure the frame temperature never exceeded ignition thresholds. With modern computer-aided thermodynamics, engineers can optimize heat paths, reducing motor weight while improving protection integrity.
The integration of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM), represented by the WEPM series, marks a significant shift in variable speed applications. PMSM technology achieves higher torque density and lower rotor heat losses compared to traditional induction motors. This minimizes heat generation on the shaft, allowing for a safer, more reliable temperature margin. Moving forward, the deployment of Ex-certified wireless vibration sensors and continuous thermal monitors will enable operators to track motor diagnostics in real time. This allows predictive maintenance to occur before critical faults emerge, preventing dangerous outages in volatile process environments.
Expert Answers on Regulatory Compliance, Maintenance, and Motor Design
Underground Mining, Variable Frequency, Positive Pressure & PMSM Systems
NANFANG
