Contraves

Contraves Drives, Components and Replacement Parts

Contraves is a long-established name in industrial motion control, best known for its AC and DC servo drives, control modules and power units used in machine tools and automated production lines across Europe and beyond. Much of this equipment is now obsolete, yet the machines it runs remain in daily use, which is why demand for genuine and compatible replacement parts continues. K2 Automation supplies new, refurbished and obsolete Contraves components from stock, sourced through a global network of specialists and dispatched worldwide.

Shop Contraves Parts by Type

Every Contraves part listed on this page can be added to an enquiry list for a fast, no-obligation quote. If you cannot see the exact model or part number you need, our sourcing team can track it down. The Contraves range we handle falls into four main groups:

• Servo drives - AC and DC servo drives from the AC 800 and NC series, including the digiVEC, digiSTAR and digiTAB families.
• Control modules - controller boards, servo controller racks and logic modules that manage sequencing and motion.
• Power units - power supply units and rack PSUs that feed regulated power to Contraves control hardware.
• Servo motors and related components - DC and brushless servo motors, plus interface, feedback and signal-processing units that complete a Contraves control architecture.

For wider drive requirements you can also browse our full ranges of AC/DC and servo drives and servo motors.

What Is Contraves?

Contraves is a Swiss-originated industrial engineering brand whose drives business specialised in precision servo control for machine tools and automation systems. Over the years the Contraves drives portfolio has been developed and serviced under several related names, including Contraves Drives and Consysta Automation, and comparable motion products circulated in North America under CMC (Cleveland Motion Controls). This heritage is why Contraves parts appear in equipment built from the late 1970s onwards and are still supported today.

Is Contraves still in business?

The original Contraves drives lines are largely discontinued, but the technology continues to be supported through specialist suppliers, repairers and legacy-parts distributors. Many Contraves systems remain fully operational, so parts, repairs and drop-in replacements are still available through the right channels rather than through general distribution.

Contraves Drives Explained

Contraves drives cover both AC and DC servo control across a broad power range, which is one reason they were adopted so widely in machine tool applications. Knowing which family your drive belongs to makes sourcing a replacement far quicker.

AC 800 series servo drives

The Contraves AC 800 series includes the AC800, AC805, AC815, AC835 and AC850 models. Across the series, continuous current output ranges from roughly 7 to 70 amps with a DC bus voltage around 325 VDC, giving continuous output from about 0.5 kW to 6.6 kW and speeds up to 6,000 rpm. These drives operate on 115/230 VAC in single or three phase, which is why they suited so many mid-power axis and machine tool applications.

NC series DC servo drives

The NC-series DC drives (for example the NC100 and NC600 families) were built to run brushed DC servo motors. Depending on the model, continuous current typically falls between 5 and 40 amps with peak current up to around 100 amps, and output voltages vary from roughly 100 VDC to 162 VDC. These are the drives most often found in older, long-service production machinery.

digiVEC, digiSTAR and digiTAB families

The digital Contraves drive families brought fully digitised control to the range. The digiSTAR is a fully digitised three-phase AC servo controller supporting speed, torque and frequency control with or without a resolver, and it can integrate higher-level control structures such as position control. The digiVEC and digiTAB families extend the same digital approach. If your unit carries one of these names, quoting the exact model and part number helps us confirm compatibility.

Common Contraves Components

Maintenance engineers working on a Contraves system will typically encounter a recognisable set of component types. The most commonly requested are:

• Control modules - handling the logic and sequencing that drives automated processes.
• Drives - managing motor speed and torque across multiple axes and applications.
• Power units - supplying regulated power to control and automation hardware.
• Automation system components - interface, monitoring and signal-processing units that make up a complete control architecture.

Drives and power units from well-known families tend to have more sourcing options available. Control modules, particularly older or application-specific boards, are usually harder to track down, which is where a specialist inventory makes the difference.

Where Contraves Equipment Is Used

Contraves components appear anywhere precise, reliable motion control is required. Common settings include:

• Machine tools and CNC systems - axis drives and controllers on lathes, mills and grinders, often integrated with CNC control hardware.
• Automated production lines - drive and control systems that maintain consistent output across manufacturing processes.
• Standalone industrial machinery - machines with integrated Contraves modules as part of their original build, many still in active service decades on.

The fact that so much of this equipment still runs is a testament to how well it was made. It also means there is ongoing demand for replacement parts as original stock becomes harder to find.

Why Genuine Contraves Replacement Parts Matter

When a Contraves component fails, the impact on production is immediate. Control systems do not degrade quietly; they stop the machine, and in manufacturing, stopped means costly. Sourcing the correct part protects your system in three ways:

• System stability - Contraves drives are engineered to work as part of a wider control architecture. An incompatible substitute, even one that looks similar, can introduce instability. The correct part is the safer choice.
• Reduced downtime - sourcing the right component quickly, from a supplier who understands the equipment, gets you running again faster than chasing substitutes that do not quite fit.
• Operational efficiency - a control system running on the correct components performs as designed, with no workarounds elsewhere in the system.

How to Identify a Contraves Part

Start with the part number. On most Contraves components it is printed on a label on the unit housing or module casing (for example, model references such as AC815 or 7310.200.1007). If the label is worn or missing, the machine's wiring schematics or system documentation are the next best source. Sending us a clear photo of the rating plate and the part number is usually enough for our team to confirm the exact item and a compatible alternative if the original is obsolete.

Sourcing Contraves Parts from K2 Automation

Finding Contraves parts through standard channels is rarely straightforward, because much of the range is discontinued. This is exactly the kind of legacy sourcing K2 Automation specialises in. With more than 12 years of experience in industrial automation supply and over 300,000 new, refurbished and obsolete parts available through our network, we help keep ageing systems productive without the expense of a full control retrofit.

When you source Contraves components from K2 Automation you get:

• Access to obsolete and hard-to-find stock through an international network of suppliers and repair centres.
• A 12-month warranty on supplied parts, which can be extended.
• Fast quotes and lead times , with priority handling for machine-down breakdowns.
• Worldwide dispatch from our bases in the UK, Germany and the United States.

To get a quote, add the parts you need to your enquiry list or contact our team with your part numbers. If a part is not listed, we will source it for you.

Contraves Parts: Frequently Asked Questions

What are Contraves components used for?

Contraves components are used in industrial automation and motion control. They support machine operation, process monitoring and servo drive control across machine tools, CNC systems and automated production lines.

Are Contraves parts still available?

Yes. Although many Contraves lines are obsolete, new, refurbished and used parts are still available through specialist suppliers. K2 Automation stocks legacy and discontinued Contraves components and can source items that are no longer available through general distribution.

How do I find the right Contraves drive or module?

Quote the part number from the unit's label, along with the drive family if you know it (for example AC 800 series or digiSTAR). If the label is illegible, the machine's electrical drawings will usually confirm the reference. Our team can then match the exact part or a compatible replacement.

Can Contraves drives be repaired instead of replaced?

In many cases, yes. Some Contraves drives and control boards can be repaired or exchanged, while others are more economically replaced with a refurbished unit or a compatible cross-reference. K2 Automation can advise on the best option based on the specific model and lead time.

Do you ship Contraves parts internationally?

Yes. K2 Automation dispatches worldwide from bases in the UK, Germany and the United States, with fast lead times and priority handling for urgent machine-down situations.