With the Slim PM, KENDRION has launched a compact permanent magnet brake for servo motors with low to medium torques. The new series is designed for applications in automation, medical technology, and robotics. For OEMs, it is not just the brake itself that matters, but its place in the system: KENDRION’s Slim PM and High Torque Line use the same mechanical and electrical interface. This allows different torque ranges to be covered with a consistent brake technology without having to redesign the motor. The customer pays only for the exact torque actually required in the respective application.
Credit: KENDRION
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KENDRION’s Slim PM Line is a cost-effective permanent magnet brake developed specifically for servo motors in the low- and mid-torque range. It perfectly complements the manufacturer’s High Torque Line, thereby covering the majority of the global servo motor market.
In a market where product variety and cost pressure are rising simultaneously, cost-effective brake concepts are in demand. According to KENDRION, approximately 70 percent of servo motor applications fall within the mid- and low-torque range. This is precisely where the Slim PM comes in. It is designed as a cost-effective solution for high-volume applications, such as in automation technology, robotics, conveyor technology, and tooling and packaging machines.
The key advantage of the Slim PM lies not in a single feature, but in the combination of standardization, cost-effectiveness, and a precisely tailored design. KENDRION has redesigned the brake’s magnetic circuit from the ground up. This resulted in a design that simplifies the overall system and reduces complexity in both material usage and the manufacturing process. This reduces material and manufacturing costs. At the same time, the Slim PM is designed for an extended temperature range and uses the same motor interface as the company’s proven high-torque permanent magnet brake.
Expand your brake modular system without additional effort
For servo motor manufacturers, this is precisely the key point. They can expand their brake modular system in the low- and medium-torque range without incurring additional costs for design, assembly, or documentation. Instead of having to master different brake technologies in parallel, the motor manufacturer remains within a single system architecture. This reduces internal effort and simplifies the scaling of entire motor families. “We wanted to develop a permanent magnet brake that could be seamlessly integrated into existing structures,” explains Waldemar Schaermann, Product Manager at KENDRION. “The Slim PM is therefore not intended as a standalone solution, but as a complement to our High Torque Line. Two brakes, one system—that’s our approach.”
Another aspect is the competitive position of European manufacturers. While significantly cheaper spring-loaded brakes are often used in comparable applications in the Asian market, KENDRION consistently relies on permanent magnet technology. With the Slim PM, the company now aims to offer this technology within a cost framework that was previously more feasible with spring-loaded brakes.
The Slim PM was presented at the SPS trade fair in Nuremberg at the end of 2025 and received a positive response there. The company is currently working with several customers on integrating the new brake into both new generations of motors and existing platforms. According to Waldemar Schaermann, customer feedback sums up KENDRION’s braking concept: “These are exactly the innovations we’re looking for right now.”