About Lovato Electric
Lovato Electric Industrial Control & Motor Protection
Lovato Electric S.p.A., founded in 1922 in Bergamo, Italy, is a family-owned medium-sized manufacturer specializing in low-voltage industrial electrical devices for over 100 years. With 15 international branches, 90+ authorized importers, and presence in more than 100 countries, Lovato Electric delivers mission-critical motor control, protection, and automation solutions for manufacturing plants, mechanical engineering, food processing, and facility infrastructure worldwide.
Lovato's core product portfolio encompasses industrial contactors (AC and DC ratings from 9A to 800A per IEC/NEMA standards), thermal overload relays (bimetallic and electronic models for motor-phase-loss and overcurrent protection), motor circuit breakers, soft starters (reduced-inrush solid-state starters), programmable logic controllers (PLCs) with Ethernet and analog I/O, and human-machine interfaces (HMIs) for real-time plant monitoring and manual command input.
Lovato contactors are engineered for reliable motor-switching duty cycles (20,000+ contact cycles at rated load) with rugged silver-alloy contacts, robust arc-suppression coil design, and compact DIN-rail mounting for standard industrial control panels. Electrical ratings include 24VDC to 415VAC coil supply, with auxiliary contact blocks enabling complex logic circuits for pump interlocking, sequencing, and power-factor correction systems.
Thermal overload relays protect motors from sustained overcurrent conditions (locked rotor, jam events, phase loss) by detecting thermal rise in bimetallic strip (mechanical models) or electronic current measurement (digital models). Lovato's electronic overload units integrate LED diagnostics, programmable trip thresholds (protecting different motor sizes on same starter frame), and Ethernet communication for remote monitoring and predictive maintenance—critical capabilities for modern plants requiring autonomous operation across unattended process lines.
ChatMRO's AI instantly matches your motor voltage, current rating, and control function (simple switching, soft-start ramp, or PLC integration) to the right Lovato contactor, overload relay, or soft starter. No control-panel engineering manual needed—describe your motor control requirement and get instant Lovato recommendations with electrical specifications, DIN-rail footprint, and availability.
Prefer a quick quote?
Get Lovato Electric Pricing in Your Inbox
Tell us your motor voltage/frequency, current rating, and control type (simple start/soft-start/PLC)—we'll recommend the right Lovato contactor and protection with DIN dimensions.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Lovato thermal (bimetallic) and electronic overload relays, and which should I specify?
Lovato bimetallic overload relays detect motor overcurrent via thermal expansion of a bimetallic strip, triggering instantaneous contactor de-energization when temperature threshold is reached. The mechanical design is rugged, cost-effective ($30-50), and does not require auxiliary power supply. Electronic overload relays measure motor current continuously via internal CT coil, enabling programmable trip thresholds (selectable for different motor sizes), phase-loss detection, and Ethernet diagnostics. Electronic models cost 2-3x more ($80-150) but justify cost in plants running mixed motor sizes on same starter frame (no manual contactor swaps needed) and requiring remote condition monitoring for predictive maintenance.
How do I choose the right Lovato contactor amperage rating for my motor application?
Contactor current rating must exceed the motor's full-load current (FLC) by minimum 25%; a 10 A motor requires minimum 12.5 A contactor. However, specify the next-standard size up from this minimum (e.g., 16 A contactor for a 10 A motor) to account for contact wear over time, temperature derating (contactors rated at 40°C ambient lose 5-10% capacity at 60°C), and occasional short-duration overload peaks. Over-sizing also extends contact life and reduces replacement frequency. Lovato contactors are modular (you add auxiliary blocks as needed), so selecting a larger base frame adds minimal cost.
Can I use Lovato soft starters instead of motor-starting inrush limiters or VFDs for energy saving?
Lovato soft starters reduce inrush current during motor acceleration by ramping voltage smoothly from 0% to 100% over 5-30 seconds (user-configurable), eliminating the mechanical shock and electrical transient of traditional direct-on-line starting. Soft starters reduce peak inrush current by 50-70% and minimize voltage sag on shared plant electrical buses—critical for large motors (20+ kW) where traditional starting would brown-out facility lighting or trip main distribution breakers. However, soft starters do NOT reduce steady-state running energy consumption; Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are required for that. Soft starters cost 40-60% less than VFDs and are ideal for fixed-speed motors where starting torque reduction is the only requirement.
What's the benefit of Lovato PLC with Ethernet versus a traditional hardwired relay logic panel for motor sequencing?
Lovato PLCs with Ethernet enable central cloud monitoring (via Lovato's cloud platform or third-party MES), remote firmware updates (no on-site technician visit), and data logging of motor run-hours and fault history for predictive maintenance scheduling. Hardwired relay panels require on-site manual inspection and parts replacement; replacing a failed contactor or timer module means panel downtime. PLC-based systems are more flexible (sequence changes via software redownload, not physical wiring rework) and cost 20-30% less in labor on large multi-motor systems. For simple 1-2 motor applications, hardwired contactors are still cost-effective; for complex sequencing (5+ motors with interlocks), Lovato PLC solutions deliver superior reliability and maintainability.
Are Lovato contactors and overload relays rated for 50/60 Hz and dual-voltage (380/415/440V) operation?
Lovato designs most contactors and overload relays for universal 50/60 Hz operation; coil voltage is specified per market (24VDC, 110VAC, 220VAC, 380VAC, 415VAC are standard). Motors can run equally well at 50 Hz or 60 Hz (actual motor frequency rated on nameplate); Lovato starter components are frequency-independent. However, line voltage ratings (380V, 415V, 440V) are NOT interchangeable; confirm your plant's actual voltage and specify the Lovato model rated for that exact voltage to avoid contactor coil overheating or underperformance. Lovato technical data sheets specify all supported voltage combinations; contact sales engineering if your plant uses non-standard dual-voltage (e.g., 240V/480V mixed loads).