Mini engine, maxi demand: Why brake design requires expertise

Whether laboratory robots, mobile boarding aids in public transport, or smart golf trolleys – small motors are everywhere. But what happens when they need to stop precisely or hold safely? This is where Kendrion brakes come into play. Based on three technologies, the group offers customized solutions for every challenge. Compact, powerful, energy-efficient. Kendrion is now focusing on brakes for small motors – and invites you to a web session.

Small motors can be found in countless applications. Often unnoticed, yet essential, they enable compact drive solutions in areas such as automation, medical technology, and service robotics. For these miniaturized drives to operate reliably and safely, powerful and precise brakes are required that also require minimal space.

The Kendrion Group offers a broad portfolio for this growing market with three proven technologies that can overcome virtually any challenge in the field of small motors:

• Spring-applied brakes are ideal for space-saving and energy-efficient applications, for example in robotics or battery-powered mobile systems.
• Permanent magnet brakes offer the highest power density with a compact design and are ideal for high-precision applications in medical technology or laboratory automation.
• Power-operated brakes are versatile and have proven themselves in demanding niche markets. Among other things, they are used in adaptive entry aids in the mobility sector.

"We not only offer our customers a broad technology and product portfolio, but also support them with decades of experience in the design of their application, right up to the customized brake solution," explains Frank Rosenthal, Head of Sales at Kendrion Intorq in Aerzen.

Brakes for innovative applications

With increasing miniaturization and automation, the demand for compact, high-performance braking solutions is growing. The versatility and high quality of the Kendrion portfolio are evident in areas such as:

• Laboratory automation: Extremely small, high-precision drives, such as those used in small-parts grippers, benefit from low-vibration and noise-free braking solutions.
• Mobility solutions: Entry aids and automatic doors, for example in trains, require robust and reliable brakes that can withstand even extreme environmental conditions.
• Leisure & Lifestyle: Electrified golf trolleys, for example, benefit from compact, high-performance brakes with high energy efficiency.

"Specific market requirements such as low weight, compact design, and minimal noise emissions play a crucial role, especially for small motors," emphasizes Philipp Hauser, Head of Sales & Product Management at Kendrion in Villingen. "Our Servo Slim Line lightweight spring-applied brake is the ideal solution for space- and weight-optimized systems in the miniature motor market. The PM brakes in our High Torque Line are designed for temperatures down to -60°C and offer reliable performance even under extreme conditions – a key requirement for small motors in aerospace technology."

Small, quiet, and energy-efficient

Kendrion consistently follows current technology trends: For example, medical technology and service robotics demand solutions that are not only safe but also operate as quietly as possible. Kendrion offers its customers innovative solutions with special damping elements that reduce brake switching noise by up to 30 dB. Energy efficiency plays a key role, especially in battery-operated applications. Here, the spring-applied brake offers the possibility of reducing electrical power consumption by up to 70% by reducing the voltage during holding operation.