Efficient drive solutions for environmental processes

In water, wastewater, and recycling management processes, efficiency and reliability determine operating costs. Our drive solutions are designed for energy efficiency and high availability in harsh environments – and can be integrated as OEM components or retrofitted into existing systems.

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Works with NORD

Torsion-resistant housings, corrosion-resistant surfaces, low-maintenance sealing concepts: NORD's modular product range offers everything you need to keep environmental technology applications such as recycling plants, wastewater technology, and drinking water treatment running reliably. Combined with our application expertise, our flexibly adaptable components create the drive solutions your application requires:

  • Fail-safe – even when used 24/7 in harsh environments. Whether for shredders or pumps: we offer gear units in one-piece BLOCK housings and with reinforced bearings. This makes your drive solution durable and reliable. If required, we can effectively protect it against corrosion with our NORD surface treatment.
  • Energy efficient – even in retrofits thanks to NORD ECO Service. Not only do we offer motors with high efficiency ratings above IE5, we also develop the most efficient solution for your application, consisting of a motor, gear unit, and inverter. With our NORD ECO consulting service, this can even be achieved during ongoing operation of an already installed system.
  • Low maintenance – long intervals, also monitored online. Labyrinth or mechanical seals protect our solutions from water and dust, while designs such as the SAFOMI adapter reduce the number of wear parts. With our IIoT solution NORD DRIVE MONITOR, you can also automatically monitor all operating data for condition monitoring.
  • Profitable – with comprehensive advice and fast service. We supply drive solutions that are correctly dimensioned and designed, all from a single source. We advise you from the initial concept to commissioning. And with short delivery times and global 24/7 service, we keep your environmental process running safely worldwide, even during operation.

Discover your potential for efficiency

Are you planning an efficiency upgrade for your system? With our NORD energy efficiency calculator, you can quickly find out how it will pay off for you. Simply enter a few parameters into our form and you will automatically receive your individual comparison calculation directly by email.

Calculate efficiency now

Discover examples of our solutions

<h3>Brush aerators</h3>
Only limited installation space is available for drive systems. Cleaning processes, water, and sludge place high demands on the sealing of components.

  • SAFOMI cylinders reduce the number of add-on parts.
  • Our NSD5 surface treatment offers maximum corrosion protection.
  • Double shaft seals & mechanical seals prevent the ingress of wastewater.

Result: Compact drive solutions with low maintenance requirements offer high reliability.

<h3>Screw pump</h3>
Pump drives require 24/7 operation and must adapt torque to different wastewater media.

  • IE5+ motors offer high efficiency across the entire speed range.
  • NORD offers a wide range of gear units with low gear ratios.
  • A modern sealing concept provides reliable protection against the ingress of wastewater.

Result: Low energy consumption is possible even in partial load operation.

<h3>Water screws </h3>
Under extreme mechanical and environmental conditions, drives enable large quantities of water to be pumped at low delivery heads.

  • 3-stage bevel helical gear units from the MAXXDRIVE® XC industrial gear unit series offer constant torques of up to 282,000 Nm.
  • NSD5 and the NORD sealing system protect the gear units against external influences.

Result: Robust drive solutions ensure the efficiency, availability, and service life of the plant.

<h3>Crusher / Shredder </h3>
When crushing recyclable materials, extreme shock loads, high torques, and unpredictable loads act on the drive.

  • MAXXDRIVE® XC series industrial gear units can be equipped with reinforced output shafts and overload clutches.
  • The one-piece BLOCK housing is torsion-resistant and can accommodate large roller bearings.

Result: The gearmotor is durable, protects downstream units, and ensures process stability.

<h3>Sludge treatment</h3>
Sludge thickening plants are usually installed in enclosed spaces. The components are therefore subject to explosion protection regulations.

  • NORD offers drive systems for hazardous areas in accordance with international standards.
  • The motors are designed for inverter operation, allowing precise control at low speeds.
  • NORD drive solutions are easily accessible for installation and removal above the sludge.

Result: Efficient drive solution ensures plant operation under increased protection conditions.

<h3>Computing systems</h3>
Downtime in computing systems is expensive and critical. This requires low-maintenance drives that also function reliably in intermittent operation and are explosion-proof.

  • NORD geared motors are available in flexible configurations for different mounting positions.
  • With its reinforced bearing design, the MAXXDRIVE® XC industrial gear unit can withstand high forces over long periods.
  • Optimized air cooling makes the MAXXDRIVE® XC thermally resilient for intermittent operation.

Result: Precisely tailored drive systems enable ideal operation with a long service life.

Talk to us at IFAT

NORD offers drive solutions for more than 100 industries. With our problem-solving mentality, high manufacturing quality, and worldwide service, we are valued as a reliable partner. Get to know us personally at IFAT in Munich: May 4–7, 2026, at booth B1.117.

What can we do for your application?

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How to upgrade your brush aerator

With two new MAXXDRIVE® bevel helical gear units, NORD offers the wastewater industry powerful drive alternatives for brush aerators. They were designed as replacements for existing drive solutions and are not only easy to exchange, but also offer a number of advantages for the application.

  • Easy installation
    The gear units are designed for horizontal foot mounting. The bevel gear input stage is located at the top of the housing (J-mount).
  • Longer operating times
    The input stage is designed as a SAFOMI adapter as standard. It is oil-tight and serves as an expansion volume for the oil level during operation. A separate oil tank is not required. This means fewer attachments, less wear, and less maintenance.
  • Fewer leaks
    Two radial shaft seals on the output shaft ensure increased operational reliability. They offer double protection: externally against oil leaks and internally against aggressive substances that could attack the seal.
  • Complete solution
    As a system supplier, we can also equip the gearboxes with a suitable torsion coupling on request. Thanks to an integrated rubber element, the overall solution is quieter, produces less vibration, and further increases operational reliability.

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  • Universal motors for Colubris

    The Dutch company develops and supplies systems that are used worldwide for drinking water treatment. Ideal for this application: NORD universal motors with worldwide approvals and certifications.

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  • Oil-cooled gearbox in Tunis

    The company ONAS relies on NORD's drive expertise for wastewater treatment in Tunis: Flat gear units operate reliably with an oil cooling system that enables long maintenance intervals.

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  • Direct drive concept in Oregon

    Eight NORD drive systems not only ensure energy-efficient operation of a wastewater treatment plant in Newport, Oregon. Their oil reservoirs eliminate the need for wear parts, thereby reducing maintenance requirements.

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Configure and order drives online

The configurable portfolio from NORD is available on myNORD. Here you will find a wide selection of suitable drive solutions for your individual project – from motors and gear units to drive electronics for control cabinet installation or decentralized use.

Simplify your processes and order your drive technology directly on myNORD.

About myNORD

Our promise to you: Our Solution. Your Success.

We support you in successfully designing your applications:

  • High level of industry expertise – with our industry experts and application-specific know-how for design, calculation, and selection of drive units
  • Individual project advice – from the initial concept onwards, we support you from the design phase up to commissioning
  • Extensive modular range of products – from which tailored drive systems can be produced to meet a wide variety of requirements
  • Worldwide service – with our global network covering more than 80 countries.

Contact the NORD solution experts

Are you planning a plant in the field of recycling, wastewater technology, or drinking water treatment? Do you already operate such a plant but want to modernize it with a view to cost efficiency? NORD solution experts can advise you on these and all other drive-related questions concerning your application.