28/05/2026
Pneumatic vs. electric motor: how do you choose?
Three criteria actually drive the decision:
→ Environment — dust, moisture, explosive atmospheres: pneumatic handles it natively, ATEX-certified. Electric requires costly certified enclosures.
→ Duty cycle — frequent starts, overloads, stalls: a modec air motor stalls and restarts instantly, no heat buildup, no damage. Electric motors in the same conditions can fail permanently.
→ Power density — the modec série 10 delivers 1,300 W at just 2 kg, in a 60 mm diameter. For equivalent power output, a pneumatic motor is 4 to 6× smaller and lighter than an electric motor.
But choosing the right motor isn't about picking a power figure.
It's about answering two questions:
→ Why do you need a motor?
→ How will you use it?
Because P = (C × V) / 9.55
(P = power in Watts / C = torque in Newton-metres / V = speed in RPM)
Power is the result of torque and speed combined. Depending on your application, only starting torque matters. Or only speed. Rarely both equally.
From there, three families cover every use case:
→ Easy Duty — no integrated gearbox, high speed, low torque. Compact and lightweight.
→ Standard Duty — balanced torque/speed ratio, highly versatile, wide range of flanges and shafts.
→ Heavy Duty — maximum torque in minimal volume, built for the most demanding conditions.
Three configurations available: inline motors, right-angle head (up to 90° output, higher torque via additional reduction), and handle-equipped models for manual portable use.
Speed and torque are adjustable at any time — simply by modifying air pressure or flow rate, without touching the motor itself.
There's no universal right answer. There's your application.
Want to go deeper?
→ Download the air motor catalogue: https://hubs.ly/Q04hSsBg0
→ Request a demo: [email protected]
