

The in-house developed electric motor-driven and gearless direct drive technology FlexoDirect® is installed straight on the journal of the cylinder. With a highly precise control the product can be used for almost every speed. A specially developed torque support allows the flexible coupling of two FlexoDirect®, which obviates the need for an additional connection to the machine frame.
With FlexoDirect® the assemblage on the drive or tender side of a direct motor is possible for the first time because the steam required for drying and the occurring condensate can be transferred through a motor internal hollow shaft. Due to the flat design, the FlexoDirect® may be used in highly constrained spaces and can be installed e.g. inside the drying hood.
The intelligent thermal control system Cooliflex® makes the FlexoDirect® operational while challenging environments including extremely high temperatures up to 120 C° and 100% air humidity. The amount of cooling water is regulated dependent to the winding and bearing temperature of the engines.
AS also developed the frequency inverter FlexoDynamic which is used for the engine control and completes the FlexoDirect® solution.
The FlexoDirect® received several awards.
FlexoDirect® was used for the first time in the paper factory Vreden in 2010, where it drives the paper machine PM 3 in the 5th dryer group.
After an intensive testing period, four FlexoDirect® were installed at the paper factory Delkeskamp. Furthermore the associated peripheral matters from thermo management, inverter and flow controller were built in.
Today two more paper machines were equipped with the hollowshaft-direct-drive-technology from AS. The dryer groups of the paper machines are driven by each 26 FlexoDirect®.
Because of the individual design, FlexoDirect® may be used by many industries far beyond the paper business.