Repairing Discontinued Yaskawa Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs): Extend the Life of Your Equipment Instead of Replacing It

When a variable frequency drive (VFD) fails and the model is no longer manufactured, many plants think they have only one option: replace everything with new equipment.

In reality, this is often neither necessary nor optimal.

At EBI Electric, we are an authorized Yaskawa service center for variable frequency drives and servomotors, with a dedicated workshop for repair, maintenance and load testing of your drives. For more than 20 years, we have been helping plants in Quebec, across Canada and in the United States bring back to life equipment that many consider to be “end‑of‑life.”

1. Why repair a discontinued Yaskawa VFD?

Many Yaskawa drive series are now classified as “legacy” or discontinued by the manufacturer. Yet these drives are still often at the heart of critical production lines.

1.1. Older series still running in the field

Among the older series we regularly see in our workshop:

• Yaskawa G5 / GPD515 – now classified as “legacy” products by Yaskawa, but still very common in manufacturing and processing plants.
  

• Yaskawa G3 – replaced by newer generations, but still in operation in many facilities.
  

• Several other legacy drive families that are no longer sold as new products, but remain integrated into your machines, MCCs and automated lines.
  

In parallel, we also repair current generations such as GA800, A1000, as well as other recent models used on conveyors, pumps, fans, kilns and more.

1.2. Replacing a VFD ≠ just swapping a box

Replacing a drive with a new one often involves:

• Adapting or modifying the control panel or MCC.
  

• Adjusting programming and control parameters.
  

• Risk of incompatibilities with existing motors, servos, sensors or automation systems.
  

• Engineering time and commissioning work, which means extended production downtime.
  

By contrast, a professional repair often allows you to:

• Keep your existing control architecture.
  

• Reduce downtime to a minimum.
  

• Limit costs to a targeted intervention on the faulty unit.
  

• Extend the useful life of your assets by several years.
  

2. EBI Electric: An Authorized Yaskawa Service Center

2.1. Official Yaskawa service center in Canada

Since 2004, EBI Electric has been an authorized service center for Yaskawa products in Canada.

Concretely, this means:

• We manage warranty follow‑up for Yaskawa VFDs and servomotors.
  

• We provide repair and maintenance services for Yaskawa products, in direct collaboration with the manufacturer.
  

• Our technicians benefit from training, technical contacts and direct support from Yaskawa to ensure reliable and compliant interventions.
  

If your unit is still under warranty, we perform the repair or exchange, depending on the model and applicable policies.

2.2. EBI Electric: Industrial electronics specialists

At EBI Electric, we have a dedicated department for the repair of VFDs, servomotors and industrial electronic boards. Our team:

• Diagnoses and repairs AC and DC variable frequency drives.
  

• Maintains and repairs AC/DC servomotors.
  

• Works on control electronics (PLCs, control panels, MCCs, specialized equipment).
  

• Operates in real industrial environments: sawmills, wood processing plants, dusty areas, high‑temperature applications, smelters, manufacturing lines, and more.

We provide services to customers throughout Quebec, across Canada and in the United States.

3. Types of Yaskawa drives we repair

3.1. Current generations

We repair, among others:

• Yaskawa GA800
  

• Yaskawa A1000
  

• And several other current generation Yaskawa VFD series used on conveyors, pumps, fans, kilns, etc.
  

For these models, we handle both out‑of‑warranty and in‑warranty units (repair or exchange, depending on Yaskawa policies and the condition of the drive).

3.2. Older or discontinued series

We continue to repair and service older series, for example:

• Yaskawa G5 / GPD515 (legacy)
  

• Yaskawa G3
  

• Various drive models that are no longer manufactured or promoted by Yaskawa, but are still present in your installations.
  

Even when official support or marketing of a model has ended, our technicians can:

• Diagnose the failure.
  

• Replace defective components (power section, control, power supply, etc.).
  

• Test the equipment under real operating conditions before sending it back to you.

4. A structured repair process and full load testing

When you send us a Yaskawa drive, whether it is recent or discontinued, we apply a structured process designed to minimize your production downtime.

4.1. Key steps in the repair process

• Reception and initial evaluation
  

  • Visual and electrical inspection of your VFD, servomotor or electronic board.
    

• Detailed diagnosis
  

  • Electrical and electronic tests to identify the root cause of the failure (overvoltage, overheating, encoder fault, power stage problem, etc.).
    

• Quotation and approval
  

  • A diagnostic report and repair cost estimate are sent to you for approval before we proceed.
    

• Repair and component replacement
  

  • Replacement of defective components using industrial‑grade parts.
    

• Full load testing
  

  • Each drive is load‑tested and checked in dynamic braking, in line with our full testing approach before returning it to production.
    

• Restoration of factory/production parameters
  

  • Your parameters are backed up and restored at the end of each repair to minimize adjustments during commissioning.
    

• Return and technical support
  

  • The equipment is returned to you along with technical support if you have questions during restart at the plant.
    

5. What sets EBI Electric apart

5.1. A global view of the motor–drive–installation chain

EBI Electric has been repairing, rewinding and replacing industrial electric motors since 1946. This experience gives us a complete understanding of the motor–drive–process chain:

• The motor,

• The VFD or servodrive,

• The control panel or MCC,

• The industrial application (pump, conveyor, kiln, ventilation, etc.).
  

This global view is a major advantage when dealing with complex or recurring failures in harsh environments (dust, heat, vibration, humidity, etc.).

5.2. Proven expertise in real plant environments

EBI Electric also works on site for:

• Industrial electrical installation,

• Drive setup and parameterization,

• Automation integration and production line optimization.
  

This proximity to plant operations means we know your real‑world constraints very well: costly downtime, difficult restarts, safety issues, extreme conditions (wood kilns, smelters, sawmills, etc.).

6. What kind of issues can we solve on your Yaskawa VFDs?

We repair a wide range of failures on Yaskawa VFDs (AC and DC), including:

• Power section failures (IGBTs, rectifier bridges, internal power supplies).

• Encoder errors or speed feedback problems.

• Overheating, thermal faults, defective fans.

• Overvoltage, current spikes, damage caused by harsh environments.

• Intermittent faults and unstable behavior.

• Communication issues (interfaces with PLCs, industrial networks, etc.).
  

For critical drives (main conveyors, kiln fans, process pumps), our goal is to restore reliable operation and reduce unplanned downtime.

7. Repairing a discontinued Yaskawa VFD: when is it a good idea?

7.1. Scenarios where repair is often the best option

Repairing a discontinued Yaskawa VFD is especially attractive when:

• The drive is embedded in a complex machine or production line where modifications would be very expensive.
  

• The VFD is driving a specific motor or servomotor that is difficult to replace.
  

• The time required to specify, install and re‑program a new drive would be longer than the repair lead time.
  

• You want to extend the useful life of your installed base while gradually planning modernization.
  

7.2. When to consider upgrading

In some cases, modernization is the best option:

• Very old series with chronic parts shortages.
  

• Repeated failures on the same piece of equipment.
  

• A broader upgrade project (safety, energy efficiency, compatibility with a new control system).
  

In these situations, we help you decide between targeted repair and planned replacement, taking into account your production constraints and budget.

8. FAQ – Yaskawa VFD (drive) repair

Do you only repair Yaskawa drives?

No. EBI Electric also repairs many other brands of drives, VFDs, soft starters, servomotors, power supplies, electronic boards, etc.: Allen‑Bradley, Danfoss, Bosch Rexroth, Omron, SEW, and more. However, we are an authorized service center for Yaskawa in Canada, which makes us a preferred partner for this brand.

Do you provide a diagnosis before repair?

Yes. Every piece of equipment we receive (VFD, servomotor, electronic board) first goes through a complete diagnostic process. We identify the cause of the failure, estimate costs and lead times, and then send you a quote for approval. You keep full control over the decision to repair or replace.

Do you only work in Quebec?

No. Even though our workshop is located in Saint‑Georges, Quebec, we provide industrial electronics repair services across Canada and, in many cases, in the United States. We can advise you on shipping and return procedures for your equipment.

Are your repairs tested before being returned?

Yes. We perform full functional testing, including load tests (when possible) and final checks before sending the drive or equipment back to you. For VFDs, parameters are backed up and restored at the end of each repair to simplify the restart process.

9. How to send your Yaskawa drive to us for repair

• Identify your equipment
  

  • Brand (Yaskawa), model (e.g. GA800, A1000, G5/GPD515, G3, etc.), serial number, application type (pump, conveyor, fan, kiln, etc.).
    

• Contact our team
  

  • Via the contact form on the EBI Electric website.
    

  • Or by phone at 1‑888‑228‑5505.
    

• Ship your drive
  

  • We will provide the shipping procedure and all necessary information for fast handling.
    

• Receive your diagnosis and quote
  

  • You then decide on the next step: repair, exchange (where applicable) or replacement.

10. In summary: don’t “retire” your Yaskawa drives too early

A discontinued Yaskawa VFD is not necessarily at the end of its life. With an authorized service center, a team specialized in industrial electronics and strong field expertise in motors, drives and industrial installations, it is often possible to:

• Extend the useful life of your equipment.

• Reduce costs by avoiding full replacement.

• Limit production downtime.

• Ensure load testing and parameter restoration after repair.
  

Do you have a Yaskawa drive in alarm, down, or labelled “obsolete”?

Contact EBI Electric now for a repair assessment:

• Unit under warranty? We handle repair or exchange according to Yaskawa policies.
  

• Discontinued model? We assess the feasibility of repair and propose the best strategy.
  

📞 1‑888‑228‑5505📧 info@ebielectric.com

Extend the life of your Yaskawa variable frequency drives. Don’t replace too quickly what can still reliably serve your production.