Energy efficiency
2-5% from the higher efficiency of the new drive. Additional savings with sleep mode and cascade control depending on the application.
// Retrofit — DrivePro Services
VFD Retrofit and Obsolete Drive Replacement in Panama
We replace Allen-Bradley, ABB, Siemens, Yaskawa and other legacy variable frequency drives (VFDs) with the current Danfoss platform. Adaptation engineering, workshop FAT, commissioning in short windows and a Danfoss factory warranty across the whole intervention.
- A technical equivalent for any obsolete VFD
- Workshop FAT before we touch your plant
- 4-8 hour windows per drive — no production shutdown
- Multi-year plan for large fleets
// The problem
Signs that you need to act
If you recognize one or more of these symptoms in your plant, there is a measurable, fixable root cause. We identify it in a single site visit.
- 01
Obsolete VFD with no support
The original manufacturer discontinued the model. With no spare parts, every failure turns into a desperate search on the secondary market. The drive is no longer an asset — it is a measurable operational risk.
- 02
Two or more VFDs failing in a row
3+ failures of the same drive in a year points to component aging (capacitors, fans). The cost of repair approaches or exceeds that of a retrofit. The economics are clear.
- 03
No way to modernize the process
Legacy VFDs do not support current protocols, remote monitoring, or integration with today's SCADA systems. Your plant is frozen one technology generation back.
// What you get
How we help you
Concrete services, not generic ones. Every item comes with verifiable scope and documented deliverables.
End of the spare-parts risk
Current drives carry at least 10 years of official support, and DrivePro Spare Parts keeps stock available beyond that.
Modern integration
Profinet, Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, DrivePulse integration, remote monitoring. Your plant back up to date.
Factory warranty
Every drive with 12-24 months of Danfoss factory warranty. Beiton extends it with annual DrivePro contracts.
Fewer stoppages
Modern VFDs have a lower failure rate and certified MTBF. With remote monitoring, interventions are planned instead of emergencies.
One party responsible
Engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation and warranty under a single contract with Beiton. No finger-pointing between suppliers.
// Process
How we work
Every step hands something concrete to the next one. No "internal phases" without an output.
01
Site Assessment
On-site evaluation: fleet inventory, year of installation, failure history, operational criticality, environmental conditions. Report with an urgency ranking.
02
Choosing the equivalent
For each legacy VFD we propose the equivalent Danfoss unit (VLT FC-102/202/302, iC2, iC7 or VACON) with sizing reviewed, required options and filters where they apply.
03
Adaptation engineering
Updated single-line diagram, panel layout adapted to the new footprint, bill of materials for the adaptation (wiring, drive mounting plate, accessories).
04
Procurement + FAT
Purchase of drives and materials. Fabrication of adapted panels where needed. Parameter setup in the Beiton workshop replicating the operating curves. Documented FAT protocol.
05
Installation windows
Schedule coordinated with production. Phased installation: one VFD at a time in critical applications. A 4-8 hour window per drive. No full shutdown.
06
Warranty + DrivePro
Danfoss factory warranty on everything installed. Optional DrivePro contract for annual preventive maintenance and continuous remote monitoring.
// Frequently asked questions
What we get asked most
Quick answers to the questions technical teams in Panama ask us most often.
Q01 When is a retrofit better than a repair?
When the drive is over 10 years old and the manufacturer no longer supplies spare parts, when you have had 3+ failures of the same drive in a year, when the spare part costs more than 40% of a new drive, or when you plan to modernize the process (DrivePulse, Industry 4.0, remote monitoring) in ways the old drive cannot support. A Site Assessment quantifies the point of no return objectively.
Q02 Do you migrate drives from any brand?
Yes. We have migrated Allen-Bradley PowerFlex (40, 400, 700, 750), ABB ACS (355, 550, 800), Siemens MicroMaster and SINAMICS, Yaskawa A1000/V1000, Toshiba TOSVERT, Schneider Altivar, Hitachi SJ series and Vacon NXL (pre-Danfoss). We match each one to its Danfoss equivalent (VLT, iC7 or VACON) keeping the operating profile and the communications intact.
Q03 What happens to the original electrical engineering?
We preserve as much of it as possible. If the new VFD footprint differs from the old one, we adapt the panel (new drive mounting plate, rewiring, relocation of accessories). If the digital or analog I/O differs, we use expansion modules. The philosophy is that the operator should not have to learn a new system — only see that the drive works again.
Q04 How much downtime does a retrofit cause?
For a single isolated VFD: a 4-8 hour window. For a complete MCC with 6-10 drives: 1 day with phased planning (one VFD at a time). For large fleets (40+ VFDs): weeks coordinated by functional groups, each window 4-6 hours. We design the schedule so your production does not stop — only specific equipment pauses inside controlled windows.
Q05 What does the turnkey project include?
Site Assessment (on-site evaluation), technical selection of the Danfoss equivalents, adaptation engineering for each panel, procurement of drives, accessories and filters where they apply, FAT in the Beiton workshop with replicated parameters, installation and commissioning in coordinated windows, as-built documentation, training for the maintenance team in Spanish, and the Danfoss factory warranty. One party responsible from start to finish.
Q06 How much energy does a retrofit save?
It depends on the generation of the old VFD and on the application. Typically 2-5% from the higher efficiency of modern Danfoss drives (95% → 98%+), plus additional gains where the application allows them: sleep mode in pumping (30-50%), cascade control (20-40%), energy compensation on HVAC fans (variable, depending on hours at partial load). In applications with a high utilization factor the energy savings can pay for the retrofit in 24-48 months.
Request your Site Assessment
An engineer visits your plant with no commitment. They evaluate your drive fleet (Danfoss or otherwise) and deliver a prioritized report with a retrofit budget.