---
title: Distribution Center Automation, VFDs, & Electrical Bearing Damage
description: As automation increases in distribution centers, so will premature motor failure due to electrical bearing damage.  How can DCs avoid this?
image: https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/distribution_center.jpg
---

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# Distribution Center Automation & Electrical Bearing Damage

[Home](https://www.est-aegis.com/) » [Blog](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) » Distribution Center Automation & Electrical Bearing Damage

[AEGIS](https://blog.est-aegis.com/author/estaegis)  Nov 18, 2025

Distribution centers are a seldom-seen but hugely important component of the modern economy.  These invisible titans, along with data centers, make mass e-commerce possible, and arguably play as big a role as Santa Claus in getting presents under the tree.  (Hint-hint.)

### Distribution Center Automation: The State of the Industry

Industrial automation saves both time and money, but most distribution centers are still labor-intensive.  As of 2024, [only 20% of had implemented any automation](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/industrials-and-electronics/our-insights/distribution-blog/navigating-warehouse-automation-strategy-for-the-distributor-market).  As machine learning and robotics progress, that fraction is sure to increase.![A robot advances down a track in a warehouse](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/robot-warehouse-dreamstime_l_14781181.jpg?width=300&height=255&name=robot-warehouse-dreamstime_l_14781181.jpg)

### Automation, VFDs, & Electrical Bearing Damage

Controlling motors with variable frequency drives (VFDs) is a large part of automation, from conveyors to robotics.  These drives allow the precise control of motor speed required for coordinated motion.  Unfortunately, without protective measures, drives also cause electrical damage to motor bearings, leading to premature failure.  Along with repair or replacement costs, this can even cause unplanned downtime and the huge expense of lost productivity.  So if not well-implemented, automation can cancel out its promised savings.

### Protect Uptime by Protecting Motor Bearings

To realize the savings promised by automation, electric motors must be protected from electrical bearing damage.  One easy means of protection is to ground the shaft with an AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Ring.  An AEGIS ring provides a low-resistance path between the motor shaft and frame, so any stray current flows through the ring preferentially to the bearings.  The bearings are thus protected from electrical damage, and operations are protected against unplanned downtime.

### ![uKIT on BaldorMotor](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/uKIT%20on%20BaldorMotor.jpg?width=300&height=251&name=uKIT%20on%20BaldorMotor.jpg)

In many cases, facilities/maintenance workers can retrofit AEGIS rings to installed motors.  In more complex machines, distribution center personnel may not be able to get to the motors within.  In this case, they would need to request that the machine manufacturers use motors with [AEGIS rings factory-installed](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/oems-with-aegis/).

## Summary

- Automation levels in distribution centers are low but rising
- VFDs are useful in automation because of how precisely they can control motors
- VFDs cause electrical bearing damage and premature failure in unprotected motors
- AEGIS Shaft Grounding Rings protect motors from electrical bearing damage, and so protect distribution centers from unplanned downtime.

AEGIS Rings come with a [2-year extended warranty](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/extended-warranty/) against bearing fluting damage. No other form of protection against VFD-caused bearing damage offers a warranty like this.

[![2-Year Extended Warranty](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20974229/3b258d08-3058-4c7f-a866-2991b627f2e0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20974229/3b258d08-3058-4c7f-a866-2991b627f2e0)

To learn more about AEGIS shaft grounding and best practices for electrical bearing protection, [sign up for a training](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/training/). We offer monthly live training webinars, and we can also visit your facility to review your exact application.

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[Bearing Protection](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/bearing-protection), [Distribution](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/distribution), [automation](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/automation)

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## Read On

<https://blog.est-aegis.com/case-study-mining-reliability-aegis-shaft-grounding?hsLang=en-us>

### [Case Study: Mining Reliability & AEGIS Shaft Grounding](https://blog.est-aegis.com/case-study-mining-reliability-aegis-shaft-grounding?hsLang=en-us)

Electric motors are essential to modern mining.  From [conveyors](https://blog.est-aegis.com/conveyor-motors-on-drives-need-bearing-protection?hsLang=en-us) and crushers to electric trucks and...

<https://blog.est-aegis.com/protecting-vfd-driven-motors-in-steel-mills?hsLang=en-us>

### [Protecting VFD Driven Motors in Steel Mills](https://blog.est-aegis.com/protecting-vfd-driven-motors-in-steel-mills?hsLang=en-us)

VFDs Improve Process Control and Reduce Energy Costs

According to the [American Iron and Steel...](https://www.steel.org/)

<https://blog.est-aegis.com/if-you-sell-drives-its-smart-to-recommend-motors-with-shaft-grounding?hsLang=en-us>

### [If You Sell Drives, It's Smart to Recommend Motors with Shaft Grounding](https://blog.est-aegis.com/if-you-sell-drives-its-smart-to-recommend-motors-with-shaft-grounding?hsLang=en-us)

Variable frequency drive users look to drive manufacturers and reps not only for quality products...

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