2026 State of Technology Report: Motors, Drives & Motion

Industrial motors, variable frequency drives (VFDs) and advanced motion control systems form the fundamental backbone of factory machinery. Motors serve as the primary muscle driving heavy machinery, processing equipment and transport lines, while electronic drives regulate speed, torque and acceleration to optimize performance and reduce mechanical wear. Beyond basic speed control, today's motion technology integrates intelligent, software-defined ecosystems..

This new State of Technology Report from the editors of Control Design explains:

• how to size motors and drives
• the dual-purpose of VFDs as PdM tools
• what a stepper motor is.