History

In August of 1992 Fisher and Paykel's Smart Drive™ washer made the cover of Appliance magazine, showing the first time an electronically controlled Direct Drive motor had been used in a washing machine.

Fisher & Paykel

Innovative idea since 1992

Fisher and Paykel are the inventors of the first Direct Drive motor in a clothes washer (refer to Appliance Magazine August 1992). In 1990 we launched our first Smart Drive™ auto-washer. This was the first time a Direct Drive motor, and the smart electronics to drive it, were used in a domestic washing machine. This set us on a path which has led us to be the world experts in Direct Drive motor technology. Today because we not only make Direct Drive motors, but the washing machines they go into, we have an intimate understanding of the application of Direct Drive motors in auto-washers.

Today our motor plants are fully automated, designed by us around optimal material utilisation. The plastic rotor is key to our process capability, giving us precise control over the air gap between the stator and rotor, a higher back EMF and is the benchmark in quietness.

Today we design motors and provide application support for a number of manufacturers and applications.

Fisher & Paykel

In August of 1992 Fisher and Paykel's SmartDrive™ washer made the cover of Appliance magazine, showing the first time an electronically controlled Direct Drive motor had been used in a washing machine. This breakthrough enabled Fisher & Paykel to do away with the belt and pulley drive of their existing washer, by attaching the motor directly to the agitator shaft. The resulting reliability and noise improvements were dramatic but the performance benefits facilitated by increased sensing abilities opened the way for this small company to export this washer to Australia and later the USA.

Being Fisher & Paykel

  • 1990 - First Direct Drive motor goes into Smart Drive™ washing machine. 42 pole , 56 neodymium magnets, with copper windings.
  • 1992 - Neodymium magnets were replaced by ferrite magnets.
  • 2004 - 36 poles with 48 ferrite magnets
  • 2008 - Breakthrough ferrite magnet technology enabled us to change to aluminium windings without sacrificing torque. Significant overall motor cost saving.
  • Future platform - Innovative stator technology provides up to 30% increase in performance over similar motors.