Direct answer: The PowerFlex 70 is a legacy general-purpose drive, the 700S is the high-performance regenerative tier, and the 755 is the current flexible flagship. They cover three different jobs, not a single spec ladder. For new designs default to the 755. Reserve the 700S for regenerative or precision loads, and keep the 70 for maintaining installed base.
The PowerFlex 70, 700S, and 755 span three generations of Allen-Bradley drives with very different roles. The 70 is a legacy general-purpose unit still common in installed base; the 700S is the high-performance tier with regeneration and tight control; the 755 is the current flexible flagship. Pick by control demand and lifecycle, not by habit.
| Drive | Position | Choose when |
|---|---|---|
| PowerFlex 70 | Legacy, general-purpose | Maintaining existing installs |
| PowerFlex 700S | High-performance | Regeneration, precise torque/speed |
| PowerFlex 755 | Current flagship | New designs, flexible options |
Three drives, three roles
PowerFlex 70: keep the installed base running
PowerFlex 70 is the mature, cost-effective drive for existing installations; it is still the right call when extending a line that already runs 70s, because spares and the programming habit are in place. For a brand-new high-volume design, treat it as legacy and look at 755.
PowerFlex 700S for demanding control
PowerFlex 700S targets high-performance and regenerative applications: active front end, common-mode bus, and tight speed or torque control for cranes, winders, and test stands. Choose it when the process demands more than a standard Volts per Hertz or sensorless vector drive can hold.
PowerFlex 755 for new designs
PowerFlex 755 is the flexible flagship for new projects: a wide power range, safe torque off and many option cards, and the broadest ecosystem. Specify it for fresh designs where you want one platform across the plant instead of three.
Selection checklist
- New design? → PowerFlex 755
- Regenerative braking or tight torque/speed control? → PowerFlex 700S
- Maintaining an existing install? → PowerFlex 70
These sit inside the larger variable frequency drive and drives and motors families, where multi-brand alternatives cover the same duties.
PowerFlex drive FAQ
Is the PowerFlex 70 still supported for new projects?
It remains available for spares and extensions to installed bases, but Rockwell positions 755 as the go-forward platform. For a new machine, 755 is the safer long-term choice; keep 70 for matching what you already run.
What does the 700S do that the 755 cannot?
The 700S offers regenerative and active-front-end control that the 755 does not provide natively, returning energy to the bus and holding tighter control on demanding loads. If you need regeneration or a common DC bus across large drives, 700S is the differentiator.
Related reading: OPC UA and MQTT in industrial HMIs; SINAMICS G120X 22 kW drive
