Description
The Grifco mDrive LC 1HP is a heavy-duty commercial and industrial roller shutter operator designed specifically for spring-balanced roller shutters and grilles.
Manufactured in Australia, the mDrive is a proven industrial operator platform designed for installations where strength, reliability and straightforward mechanical operation are required. The 1HP Low Cycle model is available in both 240V single-phase and 415V three-phase configurations and is rated for spring-balanced roller shutters up to 36m².
💪 Heavy-Duty 1HP Motor
The mDrive LC 1HP is powered by a 0.75kW industrial electric motor, equivalent to 1 horsepower.
This provides the power required for larger commercial roller shutters while remaining compact enough for conventional side-mounted roller shutter installations.
Grifco offers two 1HP Low Cycle versions:
- ML102M – 240V single phase, 6.0A
- ML103M – 415V three phase, 2.30A
Both are rated for spring-balanced roller shutters up to 36m².
🏭 Designed for Commercial & Industrial Roller Shutters
Unlike residential roller door openers, the mDrive has been developed specifically for commercial and industrial access applications.
Typical installations include:
- Factory roller shutters
- Warehouse doors
- Loading areas
- Commercial premises
- Storage facilities
- Workshops
- Industrial buildings
- Large spring-balanced roller shutters
- Commercial roller grilles
The operator is designed to work with a correctly spring-balanced shutter rather than lifting the entire dead weight of an unbalanced door.
🔄 Low Cycle Configuration
This model is the LC – Low Cycle version of the Grifco mDrive.
It is intended for commercial and industrial doors with moderate daily usage rather than applications requiring continuous or very frequent operation.
Grifco’s previous technical documentation identifies the Low Cycle mDrive classification as LC-10, while separate High Cycle mDrive models are available for higher-frequency applications.
For warehouses or industrial openings operating repeatedly throughout the working day, the required duty cycle should be considered before selecting an operator.
🚪 Suitable for Doors up to 36m²
Both 1HP Low Cycle mDrive configurations are specified for spring-balanced roller shutters up to a maximum door area of 36m².
This makes the operator suitable for substantially larger doors than typical residential roller door operators.
Actual suitability will depend on factors including:
- Door width
- Door height
- Curtain construction
- Finished door weight
- Barrel diameter
- Spring balance
- Operating frequency
- Installation configuration
The 36m² rating should therefore be treated as the manufacturer’s maximum application size rather than the only consideration when selecting the operator.
⚙️ Purpose-Built Industrial Gearbox
The mDrive combines its industrial motor with a purpose-designed gearbox to provide the torque required to operate large spring-balanced roller shutters.
The gearbox transfers the motor’s rotational movement to the roller shutter drive system, providing controlled opening and closing of the shutter.
The mDrive uses a 31.75mm output shaft arrangement.
↔️ Left or Right-Hand Installation
The mDrive can be configured according to the required side of the roller shutter installation.
Grifco’s technical documentation specifies that an L or R designation must be added to the operator part number when ordering, identifying the required installation orientation.
Correct handing should therefore be confirmed before ordering the operator.
🌦️ IP44 Rated
The standard mDrive LC 1HP operator carries an IP44 enclosure rating.
This provides protection against solid objects greater than 1mm and splashing water from multiple directions.
The standard IP44 mDrive should not be considered waterproof. Installation location and environmental exposure should be considered when specifying the operator.
Grifco also manufactures specialised mDrive variants for more demanding environments, including dust ignition proof and flameproof configurations.
🎛️ Flexible Control Options
One of the advantages of the mDrive platform is its ability to integrate with different industrial control arrangements.
Grifco offers compatible control systems allowing the operator installation to be configured according to the requirements of the site.
Depending on the selected control system and accessories, an installation can incorporate:
- Open / Stop / Close controls
- Key switches
- Remote controls
- Safety beams
- Safety edge systems
- Access control
- External activation devices
- Building control interfaces
- Other compatible industrial accessories
The control system is selected separately according to the application.
🧠 Grifco Mechanical Logic Compatible
The mDrive can be paired with Grifco’s Mechanical Logic control systems.
Grifco offers dedicated Mechanical Logic controllers for heavy-duty operators, including configurations specifically designed for single-phase motors up to 1HP and larger three-phase industrial operators.
This provides flexibility when configuring the operator for anything from straightforward local control through to installations requiring additional safety and access-control functionality.
🕹️ Reversing Starter Compatible
The mDrive can also be used with an appropriately specified Grifco reversing starter.
The reversing starter controls the electrical direction of the motor, allowing the operator to run in either the opening or closing direction.
Grifco lists compatible reversing starters and Mechanical Logic systems as control options for the mDrive, with the control equipment not included with the basic operator.
🛡️ Safety System Integration
Commercial and industrial powered doors require safety equipment appropriate to the individual installation.
Depending on the control configuration, the mDrive can be integrated with compatible safety devices such as monitored safety beams and other entrapment-protection equipment.
Grifco states that installation-specific entrapment protection must be configured according to the door type and applicable requirements of AS/NZS 60335.2.103.
🔧 Designed for Spring-Balanced Shutters
The mDrive is specifically designed for spring-balanced roller shutters.
A correctly balanced shutter substantially reduces the load placed on the operator and allows the door to move smoothly throughout its travel.
Before installing the operator, the shutter should:
- Move freely through its complete travel
- Be correctly spring balanced
- Have properly aligned guides
- Have a suitable barrel and drive arrangement
- Be mechanically sound
- Remain within the operator’s rated capacity
The motor should not be used to compensate for a poorly balanced or mechanically defective roller shutter.
🇦🇺 Australian Designed & Manufactured
The Grifco mDrive is designed and manufactured in Australia for commercial and industrial door applications.
The platform has been developed specifically around the requirements of roller shutter automation and integrates with Grifco’s extensive range of industrial door controls, safety equipment and accessories.
🏗️ New & Existing Roller Shutter Installations
The mDrive can be incorporated into new roller shutter installations or used when upgrading suitable existing industrial roller shutter systems.
For replacement applications, the existing shutter, drive arrangement, mounting configuration and control equipment should be assessed before selecting the replacement operator.
🔌 240V Single Phase Option – ML102M
The ML102M provides the 1HP Low Cycle mDrive in a 240V single-phase configuration.
Specifications include:
- 0.75kW / 1HP
- 240V AC
- Single phase
- 6.0A
- Maximum door area 36m²
- IP44
- Low Cycle duty
This can be particularly useful for commercial premises where three-phase power is not available at the roller shutter location.
⚡ 415V Three Phase Option – ML103M
The ML103M provides the same 1HP Low Cycle platform in a 415V three-phase configuration.
Specifications include:
- 0.75kW / 1HP
- 415V AC
- Three phase
- 2.30A
- Maximum door area 36m²
- IP44
- Low Cycle duty
This configuration is particularly suited to industrial sites where three-phase electrical supply is readily available.
📦 Operator & Controls
The mDrive is an industrial operator platform where the motor/operator and required control system can be selected according to the installation.
Unless your particular product package states otherwise, compatible wall controls, reversing starters, safety equipment, remote receivers and other accessories should be considered separate components.
This allows the mDrive system to be configured specifically for the requirements of each commercial or industrial installation.
Key Features
- Genuine Grifco industrial roller shutter operator
- mDrive Low Cycle series
- Heavy-duty 1HP / 0.75kW motor
- Designed for spring-balanced roller shutters
- Maximum door area up to 36m²
- Available in 240V single phase
- Available in 415V three phase
- Industrial gearbox drive
- 31.75mm output shaft
- IP44 rated
- Left or right-hand configurations available
- Compatible with Grifco industrial control systems
- Compatible with Mechanical Logic controls
- Compatible with appropriate reversing starters
- Safety accessory integration
- Suitable for commercial and industrial applications
- Australian designed and manufactured
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Grifco
- Model Range: mDrive
- Configuration: Low Cycle – LC
- Product Type: Industrial Roller Shutter Operator
- Door Type: Spring-Balanced Roller Shutter / Grille
- Motor Power: 0.75kW
- Horsepower: 1HP
- Maximum Door Area: 36m²
- Output Shaft: 31.75mm
- Environmental Rating: IP44
- Handing: Left or Right
- Controls: Selected separately according to installation
ML102M – Single Phase
- Supply: 240V AC
- Phase: Single Phase
- Current: 6.0A
- Power: 0.75kW / 1HP
- Maximum Door Area: 36m²
- Duty: Low Cycle
- IP Rating: IP44
ML103M – Three Phase
- Supply: 415V AC
- Phase: Three Phase
- Current: 2.30A
- Power: 0.75kW / 1HP
- Maximum Door Area: 36m²
- Duty: Low Cycle
- IP Rating: IP44
These specifications are from Grifco’s current mDrive technical data.
Compatibility
Designed for compatible spring-balanced commercial and industrial roller shutters and roller grilles up to 36m².
The correct operator configuration should be selected according to:
- Available electrical supply
- Door dimensions
- Door construction
- Finished shutter weight
- Spring balance
- Required duty cycle
- Operator handing
- Control requirements
- Required safety equipment
For applications requiring more frequent operation, a Grifco mDrive High Cycle model may be more appropriate.
⚠️ Please Note
This listing is for the Grifco mDrive LC 1HP operator. Control equipment and accessories may not be included unless specifically stated in the product package.
The operator is available in both 240V single-phase ML102M and 415V three-phase ML103M versions. The correct electrical configuration must be selected for the installation.
Left or right-hand orientation must also be specified when ordering.
The maximum 36m² door size assumes a correctly designed and spring-balanced roller shutter. Final operator selection should consider the complete door specification and expected operating frequency.
Industrial door automation must be installed with appropriate controls and entrapment-protection equipment in accordance with the requirements applicable to the installation.
If you are unsure which mDrive configuration, control system or safety accessories are required, contact our Technical Support team on 1300 733 066 before ordering.
