Plettenberg stands at the forefront of developing and manufacturing customized electric drive systems for the unmanned systems sector. We are recognized globally as the premier provider of high-performance inrunner BLDC motors for drones.
Our extensive product lineup includes outrunner BLDC motors, brushed DC motors, electronic speed controllers (ESCs), generators, starters, and various accessories. Our drive systems are unmatched in durability, power-to-weight ratio, efficiency, and compact design, making them ideal for demanding professional and defense applications in extreme conditions.
Each of our drive solutions is custom-built to meet the unique specifications of our clients, including modifications to housing, shaft, pole count, winding, cooling, and IP rating. this level of customization enables us to create the most effective solutions tailored to your specific load requirements. Our engineering team collaborates closely with you to offer the necessary technical support and system integration guidance.
All products are manufactured in Germany under a stringent quality management system certified to EN 9100:2018 standards.
Navigate to:
- Electric Drone Motors
- Maritime Propulsion Solutions
- Redundant Motor Solutions
- UAV ESCs
- Generators & Starters
- Accessories
- Engineering Services
Electric Motors
Inrunner & Outrunner BLDC Drone Motors
Plettenberg offers an extensive selection of high-performance motors, with over 5,000 configurations available. Our offerings include both inrunner and outrunner BLDC motors,and also brushed DC motors. Many of our motors can also function as generators or starters in combustion engine systems.
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#1
global leader in inrunner BLDC motors
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100%
manufactured in Germany
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+5,000
configuration options
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26 kW/kg
power-to-weight ratio
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EN 9100:2018
certified quality management
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67
IP protection class
Discover more: Electric Drive Solutions for Unmanned Systems >
Inrunner BLDC Motors for drones & UAV
Our inrunner BLDC motor series includes the NOVA and ADVANCE families. The NOVA series features a robust closed-case design,available in power ranges from 1 kW to 50 kW. The ADVANCE series, on the other hand, has a lightweight open-case design, with power options from 1 kW to 5 kW.
Our inrunners are designed for durability and can achieve protection ratings of up to IP67, making them perfect for extreme environments, including snow, deserts, and marine operations.
NOVA Series
ADVANCE Series
Our inrunner motors achieve high torque density through the use of a high number of poles (up to 70) and a specialized magnetic system design. This allows for the reduction or elimination of gearboxes in many applications, considerably lowering system costs and weight.
For further details: Inrunner BLDC Motors
Outrunner BLDC Motors
Our ORBIT series of outrunner motors ranges from 1 kW to 15 kW. These motors have their roots in the model aircraft industry, which demands powerful, high-torque motors with minimal weight.
Over the years, we have refined our outrunner designs to cater to the commercial and defense UAV markets. Our outrunner motors are exceptionally compact and boast leading power-to-weight ratios.
For more information: Outrunner BLDC Motors
Maritime Propulsion Solutions
Durable Inrunner BLDC Motors for UUVs & USVs
Our NOVA Maritime series of inrunner BLDC motors is engineered to perform exceptionally in the challenging conditions of marine environments. With an ultra-durable IP67-rated and corrosion-resistant casing, these motors are perfect for uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), with peak power capabilities ranging from under 1 kW to 30 kW.
Each motor is customized to align perfectly with the load profile of the client’s submission, and for many needs, can also be supplied as a complete propulsion unit with an integrated Plettenberg ESC. Oil-filled housings are available for deep-sea applications.
For further details: Maritime Propulsion Solutions
Redundant Motor Solutions
Custom BLDC Drone Motors with Redundancy Features
Based on our established NOVA inrunner motors,the Nova X series has been designed to meet the needs of drone OEMs for safe and certifiable propulsion solutions. Featuring up to three redundant windings powered by independent ESCs,these high-reliability motors allow UAVs to execute safe emergency landings even if one ESC fails and a winding segment is compromised.
All NOVA X-Series motors can be customized to meet specific user requirements, offering a variety of options for thermal design, ingress protection up to IP67, winding configurations, pole counts, and more.
For more information: Redundant Motor Solutions
Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs)
High-performance ESCs for Unmanned Systems
plettenberg designs and produces a diverse range of robust high-performance ESCs, with top models capable of handling voltages up to 400 V and currents up to 250 A. All our drone ESCs are developed and manufactured at our headquarters in Germany, crafted by hand to meet the highest quality standards. We can customize the hardware and software of our ESCs to fit specific application needs.
We highly recommend utilizing our motors and ESCs as a cohesive system for optimal performance; using products from different manufacturers can compromise efficiency,weight,and size advantages. Our engineering team is available to assist you in designing the ideal ESC solution and support you with system integration, including ESC configuration, optimal power supply, and thermal management.
For more information: Drone & UAV ESCs
Generators & Starter Systems
Engine Starter Systems for drones & UAVs
Plettenberg designs and manufactures generators and starters along with related electronics for combustion engines in unmanned system applications.We provide generators with power outputs ranging from 500 W to 15 kW.
Our systems are available as external generators (seperate from the combustion engine), attachment kits (to be mounted on the combustion engine), or integration kits (to be incorporated into the combustion engine housing). Our generators are compatible with boxer engines, inline engines, and single-cylinder engines ranging from 100-650 cm³.
for more information: Generators & Starters
accessories
Plettenberg offers a comprehensive range of high-quality, lightweight accessories. Our accessories are manufactured to the same performance and quality standards as our electric drone motors and ESCs. The product lineup includes the Gold Plug Series, programming kits, data loggers, cabling, capacitors, and fuse boxes.
The Plettenberg Gold Plug series was specifically designed for UAV applications.Unlike competing products made from steel, we manufacture the Gold Plug from aluminum with a gold coating, reducing weight by 50% and potentially saving over 120 g in a single UAV application. The Gold Plug features a unique design that prevents loosening due to shocks or vibrations, making it ideal for harsh environments. It also allows for frequent plugging and soldering without compromising the clamping force.
for more information: Accessories
Engineering Services
Throughout the design and development stages of your project, our engineering team collaborates closely with you to create a drive solution tailored to your specific application.You will benefit from our extensive expertise in motor-ESC configuration and drive system integration, including optimal power supply and thermal management. our team also programs the firmware according to your unique specifications.
For more information: Engineering Services
Case Study: Aviation Design & Plettenberg – UAV Propulsion System Plettenberg supplies the electric propulsion motor for the Spy Ranger UAV developed by Aviation Design. View Case Study >
case Study: Suter Industries & Plettenberg – Starter-Generator System Suter Industries has chosen Plettenberg as the supplier for the starter-generator system for its TOA-288 engine. View Case Study >
White Paper: The rising Popularity of Inrunners for UAV Applications This white paper compares inrunners and outrunners, discusses recent innovations and trends, and explains the increasing preference for inrunners in UAV applications. read White Paper >
Applications
unmanned systems
Electric drive solutions for unmanned system applications, including UAVs, UUVs, UGVs, and ROVs.
Robotics & Automation
Electric drive solutions for battery-operated robots and robotic automation systems.
Discover more: Electric Drive Solutions for Unmanned Systems & Robotics >
