The mechatronic system consists of an electromagnetically operated clutch or brake and a newly developed control unit. This unique control unit performs two roles: It allows the clutch or brake to operate absolutely silently and controls or adjusts their torque.

The switching noise of electromagnetically operated clutches and brakes is felt to be troublesome in many applications and up till now was primarily reduced by mechanical means on the clutch or the brake. The noise is caused by the armature disc striking the magnetic body. By using Ortlinghaus's newly developed control unit the armature disc can be moved along a freely defined travel/ time curve. Thus it is possible to move it up to the magnetic body at a speed close to zero: a switching noise doesn't occur at all and thus time and money do not have to be spent on lessening it. This control unit function is used anywhere noises are considered troublesome, such as in the theatre, in lifts or with medical equipment.

If the armature disc rests against the magnetic body its pressing force can be controlled or finely adjusted. In proportion to the pressing force the torque is produced by the clutch or brake dependent constants "friction coefficient" and "average friction diameter". This can thus be set directly after being calibrated once and is dependent on other influences such as wear or temperature.

This function is required anywhere where the clutch or brake torque of a safety brake must be applied specifically, if necessary, also taking other parameters into consideration. These are, for example, safety clutches that can be opened in the event of overload, brakes for unwinding equipment, industrial trucks that are slowed down by the brake pedal electronically taking load influences into consideration, escalators or rotating mechanisms for cranes.

The control unit can easily be adjusted to (even changing) requirements because the parameters can easily be set individually on the PC.