Bonfiglioli shows planetary yaw and pitch drives for wind turbines up to 21 MW at WindEnergy 2026

At WindEnergy in Hamburg (22–25 September 2026), Bonfiglioli presented its drive solutions for wind turbines, drawing on more than 45 years of experience in the sector. The portfolio covers the control of energy generation from rotor blade positioning with pitch drives to nacelle orientation with yaw drives.

Yaw drive for offshore turbines up to 21 MW

Two complete yaw drive solutions and one pitch solution were on display at Booth 360, Hall B6. The first yaw drive combines a sensorized 716T4W planetary gear unit, a BE asynchronous three-phase motor and the onboard DGM modular inverter integrated directly into the yaw motor. According to the company, the 700TW series, chosen by a number of leading turbine manufacturers, delivers maximum torque density with a peak torque of 225,000 Nm; this higher-power solution suits offshore turbines up to 21 MW.

The second yaw drive pairs a 700TW series gearbox with a BWM series permanent magnet motor and the AxiaVert inverter. Its key update is the fourth-generation gearbox, which offers a smaller footprint and higher torque density.

The pitch servomotor shown belongs to the 54 kW BMD series of permanent magnet motors for offshore turbines up to 18 MW. Compact and torque-dense, the synchronous servomotor handles demanding dynamics, speed and position profiles thanks to low inertia and high overload torque even at zero speed, with best results achieved in combination with frequency inverters and planetary gearboxes.

Three motor technologies

Bonfiglioli showcased asynchronous, permanent magnet and reluctance motors. The reluctance motor, a new addition, sits between the other two technologies in performance and balances efficiency, reliability and cost. Its reduced reliance on permanent magnets makes it less exposed to raw-material availability and supply-chain swings.

Lifecycle service and local production

A dedicated booth area highlighted lifecycle service. Drawing on an installed base covering equipment from virtually all major turbine makers, Bonfiglioli supplies replacement units and spare parts and offers repairs as an alternative to full replacement. A VF series yaw drive with integrated W and Z sensors and a torque limiter illustrated this approach.

Under its “local for local” strategy, Bonfiglioli produces in Europe, India, Brazil, China, Vietnam and Turkey to meet local content requirements. The company holds APQP4Wind certification for 2026 and an EcoVadis Bronze Medal.

Source

• Bonfiglioli, “Bonfiglioli @WindEnergy 2026”, press release, 22 September 2026 – bonfiglioli.com

Image: Bonfiglioli