Cemep, the body that represents European motor-makers, has announced that motor manufacturers will be allowed to continue using the Eff motor efficiency logo until the new mandatory IEC efficiency classes start to come into force in Europe in June 2011.

The Eff logo was originally registered as a trademark by the French electrical trade body Gimélec, acting on behalf of Cemep, on 10 February 2000. Motor manufacturers wanting to use the logo had to sign a licencing agreement which expires on 10 February, 2010.

Cemep has now decided to offer a temporary licence to registered motor manufacturers, allowing them to continue using the Eff logo until 15 June 2011. It says it has done this because many OEMs are still running energy efficiency campaigns based on high-efficiency Eff1 motors, while end-users are increasingly choosing Eff1 motors.

The extended licences will expire the day before the new IEC class IE2 efficiency motors (similar to Eff1) become the mandatory minimum for low-voltage three-phase motors sold in Europe.

Despite extending the Eff logo licences, Cemep is recommending that motor manufacturers should now be starting to use the new IEC efficiency classes – as defined in IEC 60034-30, and using test methods laid out in IEC 60034-2-1 (2007). The picture (above) shows a Leroy-Somer motor with the new IE2 logo.