Siemens 3RW40 480V ac, 15 kW, 3 Phase Soft Starter, IP20

This soft starter from Siemens offers an efficient and safe way to soft-start and ramp down 3-phase asynchronous motors. It's fitted with an integrated bypass to divert the current through the soft starter's switching circuits during operation, which keeps heat build-up in your control cabinet to a minimum. The unit's intelligent monitoring functions help to protect the motor from overload, and you can also set a maximum current limit during startup.

• Compact dimensions of 125 (D) x 154 (L) x 45mm (W) for space-efficient systems

Also sometimes called an induction motor, an asynchronous motor uses electromagnetic induction from the magnetic field of the stator winding to supply the electric current to the rotor, meaning it can work without electrical connections to the rotor.

A soft starter is a device used to temporarily reduce the current surge, load and torque of a motor during start-up. This reduces mechanical stress on the motor and shaft.