The ECOHEART family of high-efficiency, permanent motors and drives is targeted at OEMs that are designing customized drive systems. Compared with conventional induction motors, this permanent magnet technology achieves 10-percent higher efficiency because the internal power loss is reduced by 50 percent, co. reports. The volume of the motor is reduced by 50 percent and weight by 35 percent due to high-performance magnets and a new method of winding the stator. ECOHEART achieves low torque ripple, low vibration, low acoustic noise and much reduced harmonics, the co. claims.

Hitachi America, Ltd., 914/524-6615. www.hitachi.us