NFO Drives
NFO Drives AB is a Swedish public company developing NFO Sinus frequency inverters with proprietary pure sine wave technology, eliminating electromagnetic interference and bearing currents in electric motor control. It serves healthcare, defense, HVAC, and industrial customers across Europe.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersKarlshamn, Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What NFO Drives does
NFO Drives AB (publ) is a Swedish public company founded in 1996 and headquartered in Karlshamn, Blekinge, that develops and manufactures the NFO Sinus family of frequency inverters for variable-speed control of electric motors. The core product is a low- to mid-power inverter (single-phase 1.5 kW up to three-phase 18.5 kW) sold under the NFO Sinus, NFO Sinus G2, and NFO Sinus Optimal variants, accompanied by the NFO Sinus Manager configuration and monitoring software. Revenue is generated primarily from hardware sales at quote-based pricing determined through direct sales contact.
The underlying technology is a proprietary pure sine wave frequency conversion architecture, in which each motor phase contains a Sinus Switch consisting of two transistors, a coil, and two capacitors. Transistors are switched so that coil current is triangular, turning on at zero current and off at full current, producing a pure sine wave output. This is structurally different from conventional PWM inverters, which chop voltage into short pulses and consequently generate electromagnetic interference, bearing currents, ground currents, and switching noise. The architecture originates from civil engineer Ragnar Jönsson's research at Ideon in Lund in the mid-1980s and is backed by several granted patents in electric motor control. Functional benefits claimed include up to 70% energy savings through variable-speed control, elimination of bearing damage, no distance limit between inverter and motor, intrinsic EMC Directive and Medical Device Directive compliance without filters or shielded cables, and compatibility with earth-fault circuit breakers.
The business model is a hybrid direct-and-channel sales operation targeting European enterprise and institutional customers. Distribution covers Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Romania through roughly 13 named distributors, supplemented by direct sales from CEO Johan Braun and regional sales managers such as Jörg Herrenbrück for DACH. Customer verticals span healthcare (Oslo University Hospital, Region Östergötland), defense/marine (Saab Kockums), HVAC and refrigeration (SCM Ref/Beijer Ref, Nicotra Gebhardt), commercial real estate (ICA Fastigheter), municipal water (Karlskrona Municipality), and research and education (Chalmers Nanotekniklaboratorium, Jönköping University). The company has been listed on Sweden's Spotlight market since 1999 and reports 11-50 employees.
NFO Drives firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NFO Drives
- Legal name
- NFO Drives AB (publ)
- Website
- https://nfodrives.se
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- NFO Drives AB is a Swedish public company developing NFO Sinus frequency inverters with proprietary pure sine wave technology, eliminating electromagnetic interference and bearing currents in electric motor control. It serves healthcare, defense, HVAC, and industrial customers across Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NFO Drives industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Variable Frequency Drives
- NAICS
- Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) (IMAGACAD)
Keywords
Where NFO Drives is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Karlshamn
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
NFO Drives business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Frequency Inverter Hardware Sales: NFO Drives generates revenue primarily from the sale of NFO Sinus frequency inverters. The company manufactures and sells frequency inverters ranging from single-phase 1.5 kW to three-phase inverters up to 18.5 kW. Products include NFO Sinus G2 and NFO Sinus Optimal models.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels14 records
Marketing channels5 records
NFO Drives product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NFO Drives develops and manufactures NFO Sinus frequency inverters that control electric motors using a proprietary pure sine wave technology, eliminating electromagnetic interference, bearing currents, and earth currents. The product range includes single-phase 1.5 kW up to three-phase 18.5 kW inverters, complemented by NFO Sinus Manager configuration and monitoring software. Customers include hospitals, defense/marine operators, municipal water facilities, industrial manufacturers, and research institutions across Europe.
Product overview
NFO Drives offers a unified product line centered on the NFO Sinus frequency inverter technology for variable speed control of electric motors. The portfolio consists of the core NFO Sinus product (three-phase inverters up to 18.5 kW), with two main variants: NFO Sinus G2 (second generation) and NFO Sinus Optimal (enhanced version with USB connectivity). Supporting software includes NFO Sinus Manager for configuration and monitoring. The technology provides interference-free motor control through pure sine wave output, eliminating bearing currents and electromagnetic interference. Energy savings up to 70% can be achieved with payback typically within one year.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NFO Sinus Frequency Inverter Core frequency inverter that transforms mains frequency into a new frequency with a pure sine curve output. Available from single-phase 1.5 kW up to three-phase 18.5 kW. Eliminates electromagnetic interference, bearing currents, and earth currents without requiring shielded cables or EMC filters. Designed for industrial, healthcare, defense, marine, and HVAC applications.
- NFO Sinus G2 Second-generation NFO Sinus frequency inverter with updated firmware and features. Maintains the proprietary pure sine wave output and is part of the company's current three-phase product range up to 18.5 kW.
- NFO Sinus Optimal Enhanced version of the NFO Sinus inverter with improved performance characteristics and USB connectivity for configuration. Targets the same interference-free motor control use cases as the standard NFO Sinus line.
- NFO Sinus Manager Configuration and monitoring software for NFO Sinus G2 and Optimal frequency inverters. Supports multi-inverter parameter management, backup/restore, graphic monitoring, MODBUS, serial port control, and keyboard simulation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Energy savings of up to 70% compared to full-speed motor operation
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use NFO Drives
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
NFO Drives technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
NFO Drives partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered standard and key.
- ROFAG elektrotechnik AGstandardSwiss distributor for NFO Drives products, offering NFO Sinus frequency inverters to the Swiss market through their online shop.
- Elektron AGstandardSwiss distributor offering NFO sine wave inverters, serving the Swiss market with NFO products.
- ZTF LāsmastandardBaltic region distributor covering Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, offering NFO drive management products.
- Sinus Control ASstandardNorwegian distributor for NFO products, reselling NFO Sinus frequency inverters in Norway.
- Ahlsell ABstandardSwedish distributor, one of the major electrical and HVAC product distributors in Sweden, offering NFO products.
- VESO EngineeringstandardDutch and Belgian distributor for NFO frequency inverters, serving the Benelux market.
- Hiflex Automatiserings-techniek b.vstandardDutch automation technology distributor offering NFO Drives products.
- Edwards Int. Group SRLstandardRomanian distributor for NFO products, serving the Romanian market.
- Becker Electronics GmbHstandardGerman distributor offering NFO products to the German market.
- Tgeg24 Technischer Groß- & Einzelhandel Gaida e.K.standardGerman technical wholesale and retail dealer offering NFO sinus frequency inverters.
- PJ Control OystandardFinnish distributor for NFO products, serving the Finnish market.
- Melotte PumptechnologystandardBelgian pump technology distributor offering NFO Drives products, serving Belgium and Netherlands.
- RafportstandardIcelandic distributor for NFO products, serving the Icelandic market.
- Nicotra GebhardtkeyOne of Europe's major fan manufacturers, acquired by Italian company Nicotra. They are a specialist in comprehensive fan programs and have been selling NFO products for many years, offering complete HVAC solutions to housing companies, property owners, and industry.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
NFO Drives competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Bonfiglioli: Bonfiglioli is a European manufacturer of gearmotors and inverters serving industrial and HVAC customers. Comparable as a mid-sized European motion-and-drives competitor to NFO in the same geographic markets.
Broad incumbents
- Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric's Altivar drives target HVAC, water/wastewater, and industrial machine builders. Directly comparable on energy-efficiency and building-services applications where NFO's reference customers operate.
- Rockwell Automation: Rockwell's Allen-Bradley PowerFlex drives are widely specified in industrial automation; comparable to NFO in industrial motor control use cases even though Rockwell's range and channel are far larger.
- Siemens: Siemens Sinamics drives serve HVAC, industrial machinery, and process industries globally. Comparable as an end-to-end drives incumbent with deep R&D and integrator relationships that overlap with NFO's industrial fan and pump applications.
- WEG: WEG manufactures motors, drives, and integrated motor-drive packages. Directly comparable in the integrated variable-speed motor control proposition NFO sells, particularly in industrial fan and pump applications.
- Danfoss: Danfoss Drives (VLT) is a global leader in low-voltage AC drives used across HVAC, refrigeration, and water/wastewater — exactly NFO's core verticals — making it the most directly comparable large incumbent both in technology and end markets.
- ABB: ABB is the world's largest supplier of industrial variable speed drives (ACS series) across the full power range. It competes with NFO wherever industrial fan and pump applications are deployed and sets the de-facto standard for PWM-based VFDs.
- Eaton: Eaton's variable frequency drives (e.g., DG1, PowerXL) target industrial and HVAC applications globally. Comparable on application focus (fan/pump/motor control) and broad incumbent positioning.
Direct peers
- Invertek Drives: Invertek Drives is a smaller, drives-focused manufacturer (Optidrive family) selling energy-saving VFDs globally to HVAC and OEM customers. Closest peer in scale and pure-play positioning to NFO Drives.
- Yaskawa: Yaskawa is a drives and motion-control specialist with a catalog of general-purpose AC drives. Comparable as a focused inverter/AC-drive vendor with similar target use cases around variable-speed fan and pump control.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
NFO Drives social profiles
Digital presenceNFO Drives compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
NFO Drives financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NFO Drives leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
NFO Drives funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NFO Drives M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NFO Drives
What does NFO Drives do?
NFO Drives develops and manufactures NFO Sinus frequency inverters that control electric motors using a proprietary pure sine wave technology, eliminating electromagnetic interference, bearing currents, and earth currents. The product range includes single-phase 1.5 kW up to three-phase 18.5 kW inverters, complemented by NFO Sinus Manager configuration and monitoring software. Customers include hospitals, defense/marine operators, municipal water facilities, industrial manufacturers, and research institutions across Europe.
Is NFO Drives a public or private company?
NFO Drives is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was NFO Drives founded?
NFO Drives was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is NFO Drives based?
NFO Drives is headquartered in Karlshamn, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does NFO Drives make money?
One revenue line is on record: frequency Inverter Hardware Sales.
Who are NFO Drives's main competitors?
Bonfiglioli is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Schneider Electric, Rockwell Automation, Siemens, WEG, Danfoss, ABB and Eaton. Direct peers are Invertek Drives and Yaskawa.
Does NFO Drives have an API?
No public API is recorded for NFO Drives.
What industry is NFO Drives in?
NFO Drives's product category is Industrial Variable Frequency Drives. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGACAD, Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs). Its NAICS code is 33531 and its SIC code is 3600.