Analyzing the main components of the machine, the drives are used for:
• Rolls rotation
• Variation in the position of the movable rolls

The rolls can be driven by:
• Standard electric motors: can be directly coupled, through gearbox, to the roll shafts or can be present a transmission system. This kind of motor is normally affordable, but the precision is not so high (sufficient nevertheless in the most of cases). The efficiency is usually high, but obviously the total one depends also on the transmission system used. The continuous speed regulation can be realized using an inverter.
• Hydraulic motors: are normally coupled through a gearbox directly on the roll shafts. The usage together with other transmission systems is not suggested, because in that case they would be necessarily less efficient than an electric motor. The speed regulation can be easily realized by the usage of a proportional valve that is regulating the oil flow rate. Due to the fact that are subject to the low stability rate of the hydraulic circuits, don’t allow to obtain a high precision.
• Brushless electric motors: are the most efficient and precise drives and are normally coupled directly with roll shafts. Unfortunately they have a high cost and so they must be used only in case they are strictly required.