Frank J. Bartos, Contorl Engineering

Integrated Motor-Drives Seek Wider Market, User Acceptance

Much fanfare marked the marriage of ac induction motors and variable-frequency drives (VFDs) when these integrated packages became readily available in the marketplace over five years ago. A few integrated products were offered even earlier (see Who was first...? sidebar). However, convergence of the two technologies became practical in the mid-1990s and continues today.