New Surface Treatment Lowers Drive Hardware Costs
Food processors can now use lighter treated aluminum units that offer the same corrosion resistance as stainless steel.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Industry — General
Live Poll
Would you choose cost-effective, surface-treated aluminum equipment over traditional stainless steel for your industrial operations?
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS has launched the NXD tupH surface conversion system, providing aluminum motor and gear units with corrosion and hygiene properties that rival stainless steel. The treatment creates a non-porous, food-safe finish that allows for lighter hardware and improved thermal dissipation in processing environments.
Why it matters
The system offers food and beverage operators an economical alternative to heavier, costlier stainless steel hardware while maintaining compliance with strict international sanitation regulations. By utilizing aluminum, companies can achieve comparable corrosion resistance without the thermal or weight limitations inherent to steel units.
The NXD tupH system is available for standard NORD aluminum products, which support IE5+ and IE3 energy efficiency ratings. These units provide a lighter alternative to stainless steel, though the specific price premiums compared to non-converted aluminum housings remain undisclosed.
The players
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS
A global manufacturer of drive technology, including gear units, motors, and variable frequency drives used in automated industrial applications.
The details
The conversion process creates an inert, non-porous layer on aluminum housing parts to prevent corrosion and flaking during harsh sanitation cycles. These parts are then sealed with a high-performance, food-grade coating free of chromates and PFAS. This structure improves heat dissipation while ensuring compliance with FDA, EU, Swiss, and MERCOSUR food-safety regulations.
Timeline
October 28, 2026: NORD DRIVESYSTEMS launched the NXD tupH conversion system.
Market Landscape
This launch challenges the industry-wide reliance on stainless steel washdown equipment for hygienic environments. By providing a chemically inert, non-porous treatment, the product offers a competitive alternative to heavy steel components.
Operators in food and beverage should evaluate whether current stainless steel hardware creates unnecessary weight or thermal inefficiencies in their assembly lines. This system provides a way to reduce those costs while maintaining the stringent hygiene standards required by international health authorities.
The takeaway
The NXD tupH system demonstrates how surface engineering can resolve the trade-off between equipment durability and operating weight. Operators should review their current washdown hardware to determine if aluminum-based alternatives can improve energy efficiency or thermal management in their facilities.
What happens next
The NORDAC ON PURE decentralized variable frequency drive is expected to launch in the near future.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in production equipment in our Industry — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Food Engineering.
Live Poll
Would you choose cost-effective, surface-treated aluminum equipment over traditional stainless steel for your industrial operations?
