What Novanta IMS does

Novanta IMS is a US-based manufacturer of integrated motion control products, specializing in stepper motors combined with onboard drive electronics, motion controllers, and I/O in a single housing. The company's product portfolio centers on the MDrive family of intelligent motors — Liberty MDrive (rotary and linear), MDrive Plus, and Absolute MDrive — supplemented by discrete motion drives and controllers (Liberty Motion Module, MForce Panel Mount, PCB Mount drivers) and a range of hybrid stepper rotary motors and linear actuators in NEMA 11 to NEMA 34 frame sizes. Its proprietary hMT (hybrid Motion Technology) delivers closed-loop, servo-like performance from stepper architectures, addressing traditional issues like stalling and synchronization loss.

The company targets industrial automation OEMs, system integrators, medical device manufacturers, and automated guided vehicle (AGV) builders across packaging, conveying, assembly, lab/medical equipment, and mobile robotics applications. Differentiated value is sold through reduced machine size and component count, streamlined design via single-housing integration, simplified cabling, and pre-engineered compliance with industrial networking protocols (EtherNet/IP, Modbus/TCP, Profinet, CANopen). Marketing is conducted through technical content on its website, interactive part-number builders, trade show presence, and social channels.

Revenue is generated via hardware sales — direct through the eOrder online portal and quote-based custom configuration, and indirect through a global authorized distributor network with channel partner support. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Novanta IMS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of publicly traded Novanta Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVT), having previously operated as IMS (Integrated Motion Systems) before acquisition and rebranding, and now operates as a sister entity to Celera Motion within Novanta's motion business.

Name

Novanta IMS

Legal name

Novanta IMS

Website

https://novantaims.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Novanta IMS is a US-based manufacturer of integrated motion control products that combine stepper motors with onboard drive electronics and controllers, serving industrial automation OEMs, medical device manufacturers, and AGV builders as a subsidiary of Novanta Inc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Motion Control Components

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

akta.pro primary industry

Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers) (IMAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Motion Control Controllers & CNC/Robot Drives (Motion Controllers, Multi-axis) (IMAGACAH), Motion Control Electronics & Controls (Controllers, Drivers, Feedback Interfaces) (IMAHAGAJ)

Keywords

• Integrated motion control
• Stepper motors
• Industrial automation components
• Motion drives controllers
• Hybrid stepper technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Marlborough

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Motion Control Hardware Sales: Sale of integrated motion control products including intelligent motors, drives, controllers, and accessories. Products configured to customer specifications via online part builders. Revenue generated through direct sales and distributor network.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Novanta IMS designs and manufactures integrated motion control products that combine stepper motors with onboard drive electronics, motion controllers, encoders, and I/O inside a single housing. Its portfolio spans the MDrive intelligent motor family (Liberty MDrive, MDrive Plus, Absolute MDrive, Liberty MDrive Dual Port), discrete motion drives and controllers (Liberty Motion Module, MForce, Discrete PCB Mount Drivers), and hybrid stepper motors and linear actuators in NEMA 11 to 34 sizes, supported by MotionMatch sizing software and a 3D interactive configurator.

Product overview

Novanta IMS offers integrated motion control products combining stepper motors with onboard drive electronics, motion controllers, and I/O in single housing units. The product portfolio centers on MDrive Intelligent Motors including Liberty MDrive (rotary and linear variants), MDrive Plus (rotary and linear), and Absolute MDrive with multi-turn absolute encoder. Supporting products include Motion Drives and Controllers (Liberty Motion Module, MForce Panel Mount Drivers, Discrete PCB Mount Drivers) and Hybrid Stepper Motors (rotary and linear actuators). The company also provides MotionMatch sizing software and 3D interactive configurator tools. Industrial network support includes Profinet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus/TCP, and CANopen protocols across the product line.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Liberty MDrive: Integrated stepper motor products with onboard drive electronics and controller, previously sold under the Lexium brand.
• MDrive Plus
• MForce
• hMT (hybrid Motion Technology)

Products and services

• Liberty MDrive Integrated intelligent motors featuring 1.8 degree 2-phase stepper motors with onboard drive electronics and a controller with up to 8 I/O, available in NEMA 23 and NEMA 34 sizes with hMT closed-loop performance for compact motion control.
• Liberty MDrive Linear Actuator Linear actuator built on the Liberty MDrive platform with external linear mechanicals, integrating multi-turn absolute encoder with linear motion capabilities for direct linear actuation.
• MDrive Plus Integrated intelligent motors available in rotary and linear configurations with programmable motion control, CANopen, and step/direction control options for flexible machine design.
• MDrive Plus Linear Linear actuator variant of MDrive Plus with IP20 or IP65 ratings, supporting motion control, CANopen, Ethernet TCP/IP, and step/direction inputs for industrial linear motion applications.
• Absolute MDrive Liberty MDrive with multi-turn absolute encoder integrating 1000 line count (4000 counts/rev) encoder with 1.8 degree 2-phase stepper motor and control electronics, available in rotary and linear configurations with IP65 rating option.
• Liberty MDrive Dual Port Liberty MDrive products featuring dual Ethernet capability supporting Ethernet/IP, Modbus/TCP, and Profinet protocols, available on NEMA 23 and NEMA 34 products with M12 connectors for simplified multi-unit wiring via daisy-chain configuration.
• Liberty Motion Module Motion module for integration with Liberty MDrive systems, extending the discrete motion drives and controllers portfolio.
• MForce Panel Mount Drivers Discrete panel mount drivers for motion control applications with software configurable parameters, designed as part of the MForce microstepping driver family.
• Discrete PCB Mount Drivers Discrete drivers designed for PCB mounting in motion control systems, complementing the panel mount and integrated motor product lines.
• Rotary Motors (Hybrid Stepper) Hybrid stepper motors in rotary configuration for precision motion control applications, available in NEMA sizes 11 to 34 (28 to 85 mm).
• Linear Actuators (Hybrid Stepper) Hybrid stepper motors configured as linear actuators for direct linear motion applications, complementing the rotary motor offering in NEMA sizes 11 to 34.
• ICP0531 Absolute Encoder Backup Battery Pack External battery pack providing back-up power for Liberty MDrive Absolute Encoder circuitry, retaining position data for up to 5 years and supporting up to 6 Absolute MDrives.
• Custom Products Custom form, fit, and function motion control solutions tailored to specific customer application requirements, delivered through the company's quote-based engineering engagement.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Celera MotioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Celera Motion is a sister company under Novanta, together forming Novanta's motion business. Celera Motion specializes in precision motion components and solutions, complementing Novanta IMS's integrated motor products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Beckhoff Automation: Broad industrial automation incumbent offering PC-based controllers, drives (AX series), and integrated motors. Competes with Novanta IMS on Ethernet-integrated motion in larger machine architectures.
• Yaskawa America: Servo and motion control leader (Sigma, Sigma-7, iEZ) with integrated motor/drive offerings. Competes with Novanta IMS where servo performance requirements escalate.
• Rockwell Automation: Largest U.S. industrial automation incumbent with Kinetix motion and Allen-Bradley drives. Indirect competitor via system integrators specifying motion platforms for OEMs.
• Schneider Electric Motion: Industrial automation division of Schneider offering Lexium integrated servo and stepper drives/motors. Direct portfolio overlap with Novanta IMS, backed by a much larger parent.
• Festo: Global pneumatics and electric automation incumbent with integrated servo/stepper motor offerings (EMMT, EGSC). Competes in compact OEM motion with broader portfolio reach.

Direct peers

• Nanotec Electronic: German manufacturer of integrated stepper and BLDC motors with onboard controllers and fieldbus interfaces. Closely comparable in the integrated-motor-with-drive-controller category.
• Lin Engineering: U.S. precision stepper motor specialist (now part of Moog) serving OEM motion applications, with overlapping NEMA-format hybrid stepper products for OEMs and system integrators.
• Applied Motion Products: U.S. manufacturer of integrated stepper and servo motors, drives, and controllers with a comparable Liberty-MDrive-style all-in-one product family (StepServo, MDrives). Closest direct competitor in integrated motion for OEMs.
• Moog Animatics: SmartMotor integrated servo product line combining motor, drive, controller, and feedback. Targets the same compact, OEM-friendly motion design wins as Liberty MDrive.
• Oriental Motor: Japanese-headquartered maker of stepper motors, servo motors, and integrated motorized products (AZ series, αSTEP). Overlaps directly with Novanta IMS in NEMA-size hybrid steppers and closed-loop integrated motors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NovantaIMS
• Facebookfacebook.com/NovantaIMS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novantaims

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Novanta IMS