Cost-effective servos handle washdown and hygienic tasks
26 May 2026 
Kollmorgen has added hygienic and washdown servodrives to its “value-driven” Essentials family launched last year, offering simplicity and flexibility for fast commissioning and reliable performance. Kollmorgen’s AKMA aluminium washdown motors and AKMH stainless-steel hygienic servomotors are now available with SFD-M (Smart Feedback Device, Multi-Turn) feedback, allowing them to support absolute multi-turn positioning. Machine-builders can now achieve high-performance motion in demanding applications, without the costs typically associated with washdown and hygienic servo systems.
SFD-M provides high-resolution absolute feedback without the costs and maintenance of battery-backed encoders. It uses an energy-harvesting technology to store position information, while embedded motor data enables automatic drive configuration and rapid commissioning with any Kollmorgen servodrive. The Essentials drives support protocols including EtherCat, EtherNet/IP and Profinet, providing broad connectivity while reducing system and inventory complexity.
The AKMA motors have anodised aluminium housings with IP69K protection for medium-to-heavy washdown applications. The stainless-steel AKMH motors have IP69K sealing for daily washdowns involving high pressures and temperatures, and caustic cleaning agents.
