Austin, TX · Motor, Pump & Drive Sales
Electric motor sales, pumps, and drives for Austin, TX facilities
Replacing a motor, pump, or drive goes smoothly when the new unit fits the whole application, including the mounting, the enclosure, the duty cycle, and the starter or drive it runs on. Lopez Electric Motor Works handles electric motor sales for Austin plants and facilities, supplying new motors, pumps, and variable frequency drives (VFDs) along with hard-to-find replacements for older or specialized equipment.
We’ve repaired motors since 1972, 54 years as of 2026, and that experience is useful when you’re buying one. Because we repair the motor you have as well as sell new ones, we can tell you when a repair makes more sense than a purchase, and when a fast repair can keep you running while a new unit is on order. The shop is in San Antonio, with Austin and Central Texas in our service area, and the Austin line at 512-788-4594 reaches the team directly.
What we can supply
Every order starts with the application, and the equipment follows from it:
New electric motors for pumps, fans, blowers, compressors, conveyors, and process equipment.
Pumps matched to the flow, pressure, fluid, and pipe connections of your system.
Variable frequency drives, sized and set up for the motor and the load they’ll run.
Hard-to-find replacements for discontinued models, special mountings, and older equipment that no longer appears in current catalogs.
A new drive usually needs a home, and when it does, we build a panel to house it with the disconnect, protection, and controls the installation calls for. The layout also gives the drive the cooling and clearance it needs.
How an order comes together
Most orders follow the same steps:
Send the details.
Match and options.
Quote.
Supply and setup.
Startup help.
Follow-up.
Matching a replacement motor
The nameplate is the starting point, and a phone photo of it answers most of our questions. Horsepower, voltage, phase, RPM, frame size, and enclosure type (such as TEFC or ODP) all have to line up, along with the mounting, shaft dimensions, and service factor. A motor that matches on horsepower but differs on frame or shaft can turn a quick swap into a fabrication job.
If the motor will run on a VFD, it should be rated for inverter duty. Drives switch voltage fast enough to stress the insulation on motors that weren’t built for it, and NEMA MG 1 Part 31 sets the standard for motors designed to handle that.
Sizing a variable frequency drive
A drive is sized to the motor’s full-load amps and the type of load, with horsepower as a starting point. Fans and centrifugal pumps are variable-torque loads and are the most forgiving. Conveyors, mixers, and positive displacement pumps are constant-torque loads and may need a drive rated for heavier duty. Input voltage, the environment where the drive will be mounted, and the cable distance between the drive and the motor all affect the choice. Drives on air handlers and chilled water pumps often report to the building’s control system, so communication needs belong in the conversation too.
Availability, lead times, and keeping you running
Availability depends on the equipment, and we’ll tell you the expected timing with the quote. When the line can’t wait for a new unit, repair is often the bridge: 24-hour turnaround is our specialty, and a repaired motor or rebuilding the existing pump can carry you until the replacement arrives or become the permanent fix.
When is buying new the better choice?
Buying new usually makes sense for small standard motors where a new unit costs less than a rebuild, for equipment with a damaged frame or casing, and when you want a higher-efficiency model or a motor rated for a VFD. Repair is usually the better value for large or specialized motors and pumps, for equipment that’s otherwise in good shape, and when a new unit has a long lead time. We’ll give you the numbers for both.
What to send with a request
The more of this you can share, the faster we can match it, and photos are fine:
- Motor nameplate data, plus what the motor drives and how it’s mounted.
- Pump data plate, the fluid, the flow and pressure needed, and pipe connection sizes.
- For drives: the motor’s full-load amps and voltage, the type of load, where the drive will be mounted, and the distance to the motor.
- Whether you need a direct replacement or are open to an upgrade.
- How soon you need it, and whether the old unit is still running.
Electric motor sales across Austin and nearby cities
The Austin line covers motor, pump, and drive sales for facilities in Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, Taylor, Kyle, Buda, and San Marcos. These are service areas supported from our San Antonio shop, run as a family business since 1972.
Service area. Repairs done at our San Antonio shop.
Get a quote on a motor, pump, or drive
Questions about electric motor sales and drives
Where can I find a replacement electric motor near Austin?
Call the Austin line with the nameplate data or a photo of it. Lopez Electric Motor Works will look for a direct match, including hard-to-find and discontinued models, and if the replacement has a lead time, we can repair the failed motor to keep you running in the meantime.
What is a VFD, and does it convert AC to DC?
A variable frequency drive controls a motor’s speed by changing the frequency and voltage of the power it supplies. Inside, it does convert AC to DC: a rectifier feeds a DC bus, and an inverter section rebuilds a variable-frequency AC output for the motor.
Can a VFD damage a motor?
It can if the motor isn’t suited to it. Fast voltage switching from the drive stresses winding insulation, especially with long cable runs, and can cause currents through the motor bearings. An inverter-duty motor, correct cabling, and filters where needed prevent most of those problems.
Can you use a larger VFD on a smaller motor?
Generally, yes. A drive one size larger than the motor will usually run it fine, as long as the drive is set to the motor’s nameplate current so its overload protection matches the motor, and the motor current falls within the range the drive manufacturer allows. An undersized drive is the bigger problem.
More services for Austin facilities
Electric motor repair
AC and DC motor diagnostics, rewinding, rebuilding, and testing with 24-hour turnaround.
02Industrial pump repair
Inspection, rebuild, and testing of industrial and commercial pumps, plus the motor that drives each one.
03Custom control panels
Motor control centers, VFD enclosures, and custom panels built and wired for your equipment.
04Building automation
HVAC controls integration, upgrades, and troubleshooting for Austin commercial and industrial facilities.
05Field service
On-site troubleshooting and 24-hour emergency response for motors, pumps, drives, and controls.
06All Austin services
Every service we offer Austin facilities, the cities we cover, and how to reach the Austin line.